fub  /re     I 


PROCEEDINGS 


AT     THE 


DEDICATION  OF  THE  BUILDING 


FOR     THE 


PUBLIC    LIBRARY 


OF  THE   CITY   OF   BOSTON. 


JANUARY  1,  1858.  % 


BOSTON!^ 

'&     CONBITA  "AJJ. 


BOSTON: 

PREPARED     AND     PRINTED 

BY    AUTHORITY    OF    THE    CITY    COUNCIL. 

MDCCCLV1II. 


BOSTON : 

GEO.   C.    RAND    &    AVERY, 
I'EI.NTEKS  TO  THE  CITT. 


PKEFACE. 


THE  account  of  the  ceremonies  attending  the  dedication 
of  the  Public  Library  Building,  contained  in  the  following 
pages,  has  been  prepared  in  compliance  with  an  order  of 
the  City  Council,  approved  by  the  Mayor  ^on  the  fourth 
day  of  January,  1858. 

In  the  preparation  of  the  body  of  the  work  and  in 
superintending  the  passage  of  the  whole  through  the  press, 
the  Committee,  to  whom  the  duty  was  assigned,  are  happy 
to  acknowledge  their  indebtedness  for  valuable  assistance 
to  our  fellow  citizen,  Nathaniel  B.  Shurtleff,  M.D.,  who 
promptly  and  cordially  acceded  to  their  request  that  he 
would  render  such  aid  as  his  multiplied  engagements  might 
permit.  His.  deserved  reputation  as  an  editor,  especially  his 
complete  success  in  the  preparation,  for  the  City  Council, 
of  the  "Franklin  Statue  Memorial,"  his  unwearied  atten- 
tion to  the  interests  of  the  Public  Library,  and  to  the 
details  of  its  management,  and  the  invaluable  services  ren- 
dered by  him  from  its  commencement,  both  as  a  Trustee 


4  PREFACE. 

and  a  Commissioner,  seemed  eminently  to  qualify  him  for 
the  trust. 

Although  the  character  and  design  of  this  publication 
are  not  such  as  to  admit  of  a  detailed  history  of  the 
Public  Library,  yet  it  is  hoped  that  the  historical  account 
offered  in  the  appendix  will  be  sufficient  for  the  purpose 
of  giving  an  intelligible  outline  of  the  steps  by  which 
that  institution  has  been  brought  to  its  present  flourishing 

condition. 

* 
The  engravings,  which  exhibit  the  various  views  of  the 

building,  are  by  Mr.  John  Andrew,  from  drawings  by 
Mr.  Hammatt  Billings.  The  plans  and  sections  are  from 
the  original  working  plans,  reduced  to  a  proper  size  for 

printing,  by  the  architect. 

J.  A.  P. 

MAY,  1858. 


CONTENTS. 


DEDICATION  OP  THE  LIBRARY  BUILDING, 11 

ARRANGEMENTS, •   .  13 

Preliminary  Proceedings, 13 

Order  for  the  Ceremonies  of  Dedication, 13 

Appointment  of  Committee  of  Arrangements, 14 

Proceedings  of  Committee  of  Arrangements, 15 

Sub-committee  for  conference  with  Commissioners,      ....  15 

Proceedings  of  Commissioners, 15 

Letter  from  the  Mayor, 17 

Communication  from  the  Commissioners, 17 

Sub-committees  of  Committee  of  Arrangements, 18 

Letter  of  Alderman  Hatch  to  Capt.  Bradlee, 19 

Response  of  Capt.  Bradlee, 20 

Letter  from  Capt.  Rogers  tendering  escort, 20 

Reply  of  Col.  Frost, 21 

Letter  from  the  Trustees,    ." 22 

Proceedings  of  Trustees, 23 

Report  of  Committee  of  Arrangements, 24 

Letter  of  Invitation, 26 

Advertisement  of  Committee  of  Arrangements,      .     .     .     .  *.  27 

Order  of  Procession, 28 


6  CONTENTS. 

Route  of  Procession, 31 

Order  of  Exercises, 31 

Marshals, 32 

Order  to  close  the  streets, 33 

Special  arrangements  at  City  Hall, 34 

CEREMONIES,      .................    39 

Formation  of  Procession, .     39 

Movement  of  Procession, 40 

Voluntary  by  the  Band  at  the  building, 40 

Position  of  the  company, 41 

Announcement  of  the  City  Government  by  Col.  Frost, ...     42 
Mr.  Winthrop's  Address  on  delivering  the  keys  to  the  Mayor,     43 

Mayor  Rice's  Address  on  receiving  the  keys, 69 

Hymn, .     .     .     .     79 

Prayer  of  Dedication  by  Rev.  Dr.  Stow, 80 

Anthem, 84 

Presentation  of  the  keys  by  the  Mayor  to  the  Trustees,     .     .     85 

Address  of  Reception  by  Mr.  Everett, 87 

Doxology, 104 

Benediction  by  Rev.  Mr.  Fuller,   ......     *     .....     .104 

Termination  of  the  Ceremonies, 105 

Inspection  of  the  Building, 105 

Collation  given  to  the  Choir, 106 

Entertainment  by  Mayor  Rice, 106 

Reunion  of  Committee  of  Arrangements, 106 

Gift  by  the  Marshals,    .     .     .     '. 107 

FINAL  PROCEEDINGS,     .  •  .    ..,....-. Ill 

Resolutions  of  Thanks,   .•'««.-.. Ill 

Oraer  for  printing  proceedings, 112 

Sub-committee  for  publishing  proceedings, 113 


CONTENTS.  7 

APPENDIX, 117 

Facts  relating   to   the   establishment  of  the   Library,  and    the 

erection  of  the  Building, 117 

The  Library  Estate, 160 

Description  of  the  Building, 163 

Exterior, 163 

Interior  —  Basement, 164 

First  Story, 165 

Intermediate  Story, 167 

Principal  Story, 167 

Shelves, 168 

The  Towers, 170 

Expenditures  on  account  of  the  Land, 170 

Expenditures  on  account  of  the  Building, 171 

Replies  to  Invitations, 172 

Commissioners  on  the  Erection  of  the  Building, 174 

Architect  of  the  Building, 174 

Contractors, 174 

Trustees  of  the  Library  for  the  year  1857, 175 

Condition  of  the  Library, 175 

Library  Funds, 176 

Contributors  of  Books,  etc., 177 

General  Index, 187 

Index  of  Names, 191 


ARRANGEMENTS. 


DEDICATION 


PUBLIC  LIBRARY  BUILDING 


IN   BOSTON. 


ON  the  first  day  of  January,  1858,  the  Building  for 
the  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  BOSTON  was  dedi- 
cated, in  presence  of  a  crowded  assemblage  of  persons, 
by  the  city  authorities,  aided  by  the  Commissioners 
who  had  been  intrusted  with  its  erection,  and  the 
Trustees  to  whom  belonged  the  management  of  the 
institution.  The  weather  was  remarkably  fine  for  the 
season  of  the  year,  and  the  occasion  passed  off  most 
agreeably  to  those  who  were  partakers  in,  or  witnesses 
of,  the  highly  interesting  ceremonies.  The  arrange- 
ments were  most  admirably  made,  and  were  carried 
out  with  extraordinary  precision  and  punctuality ; 
which  added  much  to  the  success  of  the  whole  affair, 
and  gave  great  satisfaction  to  all  persons  concerned 

in  the  undertaking. 

(ii) 


12  DEDICATION   OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

Two  years  and  a  few  months  only  had  elapsed 
since,  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  September,  1855,  the 
corner  stone  of  the  building  had  been  laid  with  appro- 
priate exercises ;  and,  perhaps,  never  in  the  history  of 
the  city  have  the  portals  of  any  of  its  edifices  been 
opened  to  the  public  with  more  joy,  or  with  greater 
promise  of  future  usefulness  and  prospects  of  real  bene- 
fit to  the  whole  community,  than  in  this  instance ;  for, 
with  a  liberality  unsurpassed  by  that  of  any  of  the 
other  large  cities  of  America,  Boston,  on  the  new 
year's  day,  gave  to  her  citizens  one  of  the  most  pre- 
cious gifts  within  her  power  of  bestowal  —  a  noble 
building  for  the  most  free  library  in  the  world. 

It  is  the  object  of  the  following  pages  to  give  a 
succinct  account  of  the  proceedings  which  took  place 
on  this  joyous  event. 


ARRANGEMENTS. 


PRELIMINARY  PROCEEDINGS. 

THE  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  a  building  for 
the  Public  Library  having  expressed  in  their  sixth 
report,  presented  to  the  City  Council  on  the  thirtieth 
day  of  April,  1857,  their  hope  to  have  every  thing 
in  sufficient  forwardness  to  allow  of  the  surrender  of 
the  keys  to  the  city  authorities  on  the  seventeenth 
of  September  next  ensuing,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Com- 
mon Council  held  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day, 
OLIVER  STEVENS,  Esq.,  the  President,  in  the  chair,  JOSEPH 
A.  POND,  Esq.,  one  of  the  gentlemen  who  represented 
that  branch  of  the  government  in  the  Board  of  Com- 
missioners, offered  the  following  order : — 

CITY  OF  BOSTON. 

In  Common  Council,  April  30,  1857. 
ORDERED,  That  a  joint  Special  Committee,  to  con- 
sist of  five  members  of  this  Board  and  such  as  the 
Board  of  Aldermen  may  join,  be  appointed  to  confer 

(13) 


14  DEDICATION   OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

with  his  Honor  the  Mayor  and  the  Commissioners  on 
the  erection  of  the  Public  Library  Building,  with  full 
power  to  make  arrangements  for  the  reception  of  the 
building,  and  also  for  all  such  ceremonies  as  may  be 
appropriate  for  the  dedication  on  the  seventeenth  day 
of  September  next,  or  on  such  other  day  as  may  be 
substituted  therefor. 

The  order  was  passed,  and  sent  to  the  Board  of 
Aldermen  for  concurrence;  and 
Messrs.  JOSEPH  A.  POND, 
JOSEPH  SMITH, 
WILLIAM  PARKMAN, 
FREDERICK  L.  WASHBURN,  and 
FREEMAN  M.  JOSSELYN,  JR., 
were  appointed  the  committee. 

At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen 
held  on  the  afternoon  of  the  fourth  of  May,  the 
Chairman,  PELHAM  BONNEY,  Esq.,  presiding,  the  action 
of  the  Common  Council  in  reference  to  the  above 
order  was  concurred  in,  and 
Aldermen  OLIVER  FROST, 

JOSEPH  M.  WIGHTMAN,  and 
SAMUEL  HATCH, 

were  joined  to  the  Committee.  On  the  ensuing  day 
the  order  received  the  approval  of  his  Honor,  ALEX- 
ANDER H.  RICE,  the  Mayor. 


ARRANGEMENTS.  15 

Subsequently,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Common  Coun- 
cil, held  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  May,  1857,  the 
President  in  the  chair,  the  Committee  was  enlarged 
by  the  addition  of  two  members  of  the  Common 
Council, 

Messrs.  JACOB  A.  DRESSER,  and 
JOSIAH  B.  KICHARDSON; 

which  fact  was  communicated  to  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men on  the  eighteenth  day  of  the  same  month,  and 
the  action  of  the  Common  Council  was  concurred  in. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements  held  their  first 
meeting  at  City  Hall,  on  Monday,  the  twenty-ninth 
day  of  June  following ;  and,  after  having  fully  dis- 
cussed various  plans  and  propositions  for  celebrating 
the  completion  of  the  Public  Library  Building,  ap- 
pointed a  sub-committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  FROST, 
WIGHTMAN  and  POND,  to  confer  with  the  Commissioners 
and  with  his  Honor  the  Mayor,  and  report  to.  the 
Committee  the  day  for  the  dedication,  and  a  program 
of  the  ceremonies  deemed  most  appropriate. 

In  the  Board  of  Commissioners,  at  a  meeting  held 
on  the  first  day  of  July,  1857,  the  order  of  the  City 
Council  appointing  a  Committee  of  Arrangements 
having  been  read,  and  the  desire  of  the  Committee 
for  a  conference  with  the  Board  being  known,  it  was 
thereupon 


16  DEDICATION   OF   THE  LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

ORDERED,  That  the  President,  Hon.  ROBERT  C.  Wra- 
THROP,  with  Dr.  NATHANIEL  B.  SHURTLEFF  and  SAMUEL  G. 
WARD,  Esq.,  be  appointed  a  committee  with  full  powers 
to  confer  with  the  Joint  Special  Committee  appointed 
by  the  City  Council  to  make  arrangements  for  the 
reception  and  dedication  of  the  Library  Building. 

The  architect  of  the  building,  CHARLES  K.  KIRBY, 
Esq.,  having  acquainted  the  Board  with  the  fact  that  it 
would  be  impossible  to  complete  it  before  the  seven- 
teenth of  September,  the  day  proposed  for  its  dedica- 
tion, the  idea  of  giving  up  the  keys  on  that  day  was 
abandoned.  But,  in  a  report  submitted  to  the  City 
Council  by  the  Board,  on  the  seventh  of  October  fol- 
lowing, the  Commissioners  stated  that  they  had  the 
assurance  of  the  architect  that  the  building  would  be 
completed  before  the  close  of  the  year.  This  being 
ascertained  to  be  the  case  beyond  any  doubt,  the 
President  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  announced 
the  fact  to  his  Honor  the  Mayor  on  the  tenth  of  the 
ensuing  December,  in  a  communication  which  was 
transmitted  with  the  following  letter  to  the  City 
Council,  for  consideration  ^and  such  action  as  might 
be  deemed  proper. 

The  letter  of  his  Honor  the  Mayor  was  presented  to 
the  Board  of  Aldermen,  at  a  special  session  of  that 
body  held  on  Thursday,  the  seventeenth  day  of  Decem- 
ber, Alderman  BONNEY  presiding. 


ARRANGEMENTS.  17 

MAYOR'S  OFFICE. 

BOSTON,  DECEMBER  16,  1857. 
To  the  Honorable  City  Council. 

I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  transmit  a  commu- 
nication from  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners for  the  Erection  of  a  Building  for  the  Public 
Library,  apprising  the  City  Government  of  the  com- 
pletion of  that  building,  and  I  await  the  action  of  the 
City  Council  thereon. 

Very  respectfully, 

ALEXANDER  H.  KICE,  Mayor. 

The  communication  from  the  Commissioners,  re- 
ferred to  by  his  Honor  the  Mayor  in  his  letter,  was 
as  follows. 

1  PEMBERTON  SQUARE,  10  DEC.,  1857. 
His  HONOR,  A.  H.  RICE,  Mayor  of  Boston. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  —  In  my  last  communication  to  the 
City  Council,  in  behalf  of  the  Commissioners  for  Build- 
ing the  Public  Library,  I  expressed  the  confident  belief, 
which  was  entertained  by  the  Board,  that  we  should 
be  able  to  complete  our  work  within  the  present  year. 

I  am  happy  now  to  be  able  to  say  that  the  build- 
ing will  be  in  readiness  for  surrender  to  the  city  on 
the  first  day  of  January  next,  and  I  have  the  honor, 


18  DEDICATION    OF   THE   LIBRARY    BUILDING. 

in  the  name  of  the  Commissioners,  to  invite  the  Mayor, 
Aldermen,  and  Common  Council  to  visit  the  building 
at  such  hour  on  that  day  as  may  be  most  convenient 
to  themselves,  with  such  guests  as  they  may  think  fit 
to  bring  with  them,  in  order  that  the  work  may  be 
inspected  and  the  keys  delivered  up  in  due  form. 
I  am,  Dear  Sir, 

With  great  respect  and  regard, 

Very  faithfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
ROBERT  C.  WINTHROP,  President  of  the  Board. 

The  communication  from  the  Mayor  and  the  accom- 
panying letter 'were  referred  to  the  Special  Committee 
of  the  City  Council,  who  had  the  subject  of  dedication 
under  consideration. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements  commenced  at 
once  making  active  preparations  for  the  dedication  of 
the  building  in  a  suitable  and  becoming  manner ;  and, 
in  order  to  facilitate  matters  in  particular  arrange- 
ments, appointed  from  their  own  number  the  following 

SUB-COMMITTEES. 

ON    ORDER   OF  EXERCISES:  —  Messrs.  Frost,   Pond   and 

Dresser. 
ON  INVITATIONS;  —  Messrs.  Frost,  Parkman  and  Smith. 

ON  Music :  —  Messrs.  Wightman,  Richardson  and  Dres- 
ser. 


ARRANGEMENTS.  19 

ON  MARSHALS:  —  Messrs.  Hatch,  Smith  and  Pond. 

ON  CHAPLAINS: — Messrs.  Wightman,  Dresser  and  Park- 
man. 

ON  SEATS  AND  PLATFORMS:  —  Messrs.  Hatch,  Washburn 
and  Kichardson. 

ON  DECORATIONS  :  —  Messrs.  Hatch,  Josselyn  and  Kich- 
ardson. 

ON  ENTERTAINMENT:  —  Messrs.  Hatch,  Pond   and  Park- 
man. 

The  various  matters  of  detail  were  referred  to  the 
several  sub-committees  above  named,  and  the  duties 
devolving  on  each  were  actively  commenced. 

An  invitation  to  officiate  as  Chief  Marshal  on  the 
occasion  was  tendered,  in  the  accompanying  letter,  to 
Captain  J.  PUTNAM  BRADLEE. 

CITY  HALL,  BOSTON,  DEC.  18,  1857. 

DEAR  SIR:  —  The  Committee  of  Arrangements  for 
the  dedication  of  the  Public  Library  Building  have 
unanimously  selected  you  as  the  Chief  Marshal  upon 
that  occasion.  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  be  the  organ  of 
communication,  and  to  request  your  acceptance  of  that 
trust. 

The  sub-committee  on  marshals  are  now  in  session 
at  the  City  Hall,  and,  if  agreeable  to  yourself,  would 


20  DEDICATION    OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

be  happy  to  meet  you  for  the  purpose  of  completing 
the  necessary  arrangements. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

SAMUEL  HATCH,  Chairman  of  the  Si(b- Committee. 

To  the  above  invitation  Captain  BRADLEE  promptly 
responded  in  person,  and,  after  a  short  consultation 
with  the  sub-committee,  announced  his  acceptance  of 
the  appointment,  and  commenced  immediately  making 
the  necessary  preparations. 

With  his  accustomed  gallantry,  Captain  CHARLES  0. 
ROGERS,  of  the  Boston  Light  Infantry,  tendered  the 
services  of  the  corps  under  his  command,  to  perform 
escort.  His  letter  was  as  follows. 

BOSTON,  DECEMBER  19,  1857. 

GENTLEMEN: — Understanding  that  the  Committee  of 
the  City  Government  having  in  charge  the  arrange- 
ments for  the  dedication  of  the  new  building  for  the 
Public  Library  propose  to  have  a  procession  on  the 
occasion,  I  embrace  the  earliest  opportunity  to  tender 
the  services  of  the  Boston  Light  Infantry  as  an  escort. 
The  corps  remember  with  gratitude  the  kindness  and 
encouragement  extended  to  them  by  the  present  City 
Government,  and  will  esteem  it  an  honor  and  a  privi- 
lege to  aid  in  the  ceremonies  intended  to  celebrate 


ARRANGEMENTS.  21 

the  completion,  during  its  administration  of  the  affairs 
of  the  City,  of  one  of  Boston's  noblest  monuments  — 
the  Public  Library. 

In  behalf  of  the  Boston  Light  Infantry,  I  have  the 
honor  to  be, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  0.  ROGERS,  Captain  B.  L.  I. 
To  Joint  Special  Committee,  &c. 

The  services  so  opportunely  offered  were  grate- 
fully accepted  by  the  committee,  and  thanks  presented 
therefor;  and  Col.  FROST,  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  Arrangements,  signified  the  same  by  replying  in 
the  following  words. 


CITY  HAT.T^  BOSTON,  DEC.  22,  1857. 
CAPT.  CHARLES  0.  ROGERS, 

Commander  Boston  Light  Infantry. 
SIR  :  —  In  behalf  of  the  Committee  of  Arrange- 
ments for  the  dedication  of  the  Public  Library  Build- 
ing, I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  courteous  note  of  the  19th  instant,  tendering  the 
services  of  the  gallant  corps  under  your  command  for 
the  performance  of  escort  duty  on  the  first  of  January 
next.  In  reply  thereto,  I  am  directed  by  the  Com- 
mittee to  say  that,  while  they  had  not  contemplated 
a  military  escort  to  the  procession,  yet  they  very 


22  DEDICATION   OF  THE    LIBRARY  BUILDING. 

gratefully  accept  the  same  in  the  cordial  and  recip- 
rocal spirit  of  kindness  which  has  dictated  your  gen- 
erous offer. 

If  anything  could  add  to  the  pleasure  of  the  Com- 
mittee in  being  enabled  to  avail  themselves  of  your 
services  on  the  approaching  occasion,  it  is  the  recol- 
lection of  the  high  standard  of  military  discipline  and 
soldierly  bearing  of  your  command,  witnessed  on  for- 
mer occasions  by  the  City  Council. 

You  will  please  report,  with  your  command,  pre- 
cisely at  three  and  a  half  o'clock,  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  day  above  named,  at  the  City  Hall,  School  street, 
to  J.  Putnam  Bradlee,  Esq.,  Chief  Marshal. 

The  Boston  Brigade  Band  will  be  placed  under 
your  orders  by  the  Committee. 

Yours,  very  respectfully,  , 

OLIVER  FROST,  Chairman. 

The  Committee  communicated,  through  their  chair- 
man, to  Eton.  EDWARD  EVERETT,  President  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library,  a  certified  copy  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  City  Council  in  relation  to  the 
dedication  of  the  building;  to  which  he  replied  as 
follows. 

BOSTON,  24  DEC.,  1857. 

DEAR  SIR: — -I  hare  received  your  letter  relative 
to  the  dedication  of  the  Public  Library,  and  transmit- 


ARRANGEMENTS.  23 

ing  a  certified  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  the  City 
Council  on  that  subject. 

I  lost  no  time  in  laying  these  papers  before  the 
Trustees,  and  I  enclose  herewith  a  copy  of  the  votes 
passed  by  them  on  the  occasion. 

I  beg  leave  to  state,  for  the  information  of  the 
Committee,  that  the  Trustees  will  not  fail  to  be  in 
attendance  on  the  City  Council  on  the  1st  of  January 
next,  in  pursuance  of  the  arrangements  for  the  dedi- 
cation of  the  Public  Library. 

I  remain,  dear  sir,  very  respectfully  yours, 

EDWARD  EVERETT. 
Oliver  Frost,  Esq. 

The  action  taken  by  the  Trustees  is  given  in  the 
following  orders,  passed  at  a  regular  stated  meeting 
of  the  Board-. 

CITY  OF  BOSTON. 
In  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library,  Dec.  21,  1857. 

ORDERED,  That  the  President  be  requested  to  notify 
the  Chairman  of  the  Joint  Standing  Committee  of  the 
City  Council  on  the  reception  of  the  Library  Building, 
that  the  Trustees  will  cheerfully  cooperate  with  the 
Committee  in  any  arrangement  they  may  make  for 
the  reception  and  dedication  of  the  Library  Building. 

ORDERED,  That  the  President  be  requested,  in  behalf 
of  the  Trustees,  to  receive  from  his  Honor  the  Mayor 


24  DEDICATION   OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

the  keys  of  the  new  Library  Building,  in  accordance 
with  the  program  proposed  by  the  Committee  of  Ar- 
rangements. 

Attest : 

EDWARD  CAPEN,  Secretary. 

Alderman  FROST,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements,  to  whom  the  letter  of  Mayor  RICE, 
together  with  the  communication  of  the  Commis- 
sioners, was  referred  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  De- 
cember, submitted  the  following  report  at  a  meeting 
of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  held  on  the  twenty-eighth 
day  of  the  same  month. 

CITY  OF  BOSTON. 

In  Board  of  Aldermen,  Dec.  28,  1857. 
The  Special  Committee,  to  which  was  referred  the 
communication  of  his  Honor  the  Mayor,  of  the  six- 
teenth instant,  enclosing  a  letter  from  the  Hon.  Robert 
C.  Winthrop,  President  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners 
for  building  the  Public  Library,  informing  the  City 
Council,  in  behalf  of  the  Commissioners,  that  the  build- 
ing will  be  in  readiness  for  surrender  to  the  City  on 
the  first  day  of  January  next,  and  inviting  the  Mayor, 
Aldermen  and  Common  Council  to  visit  the  building 
at  such  hour  on  that  day  as  may  be  most  convenient 
to  themselves,  with  such  guests  as  they  may  think  fit 
to  bring  with  them,  in  order  that  the  work  may  be 


AKRANGEMENTS.  25 

inspected  and  the   keys   delivered   up   in  due  form, 
ask  leave  respectfully  to  report, 

That  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Common  Council, 
with  the  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library,  and  other 
guests,  will  meet  the  Commissioners  at  the  Library 
Building  on  the  first  day  of  January  next,  at  four 
o'clock,  P.M.,  precisely,  and  await  the  pleasure  of  the 
Commissioners  in  relation  to  the  order  of  exercises 
on  that  interesting  event. 

For  the  Committee, 

OLIVER  FROST,  Chairman. 

The  above  report  was  read,  accepted,  and  sent 
down  for  concurrence;  and  at  a  meeting  of  the  Com- 
mon Council  held  on  the  thirty-first  of  December, 
the  action  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  was  con- 
curred in. 

The  arrangements  having  been  thus  far  accom- 
plished, an  order  of  exercises  was  submitted  to  the 
committee,  and  referred  to  the  appropriate  sub-com- 
mittee and  finally  adopted.  The  following  letter  of 
invitation  was  sent  to  such  a  number  of  persons  as 
could  be  admitted  comfortably  within  the  principal- 
hall  of  the  new  library  building,  and  accompanying 
it  were  cards  of  admission  to  the  various  parts  of 
the  hall. 


26  DEDICATION  OF  THE  LIBRARY  BUILDING. 

CITY   OF   BOSTON:   DEDICATION   OF   THE  PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

SIR  :  —  The  ceremonies  of  dedication  of  the  Public 
Library  will  take  place  in  the  new  library  hall,  in 
Boylston  street,  on  Friday,  Jan.  1,  1858,  at  4  o'clock, 
P.M. 

You  are  respectfully  invited  to  be  present  on  the 
occasion,  and  to  join  the  procession  of  the  City  Gov- 
ernment and  their  invited  guests,  at  the  City  Hall, 
at  3  P.M.,  on  that  day. 

OLIVER  FROST, 
JOSEPH  M.  WIGHTMAN, 
SAMUEL  HATCH, 
JOSEPH  A.  POND, 
JOSEPH  SMITH, 

9 

WILLIAM  PARKMAN, 
FREDERICK  L.  WASHBURN, 
FREEMAN  M.  JOSSELYN,  JR., 
JACOB  A.  DRESSER, 
JOSIAH  B.  RICHARDSON, 

Committee  of  Arrangements. 

The  whole  number  of  tickets  issued  were  three 
thousand,  half  of  which  were  to  gentlemen,  and  half 
to  ladies ;  and  it  is  believed  that  very  nearly  all 
were  used.  In  order  to  prevent  confusion  in  seating 
the  company,  the  tickets  to  the  various  parts  of  the 
hall  were  printed  on  cards  of  different  colors. 


ARRANGEMENTS.  27 

The  following  announcement  was  promulgated  by 
the  Committee  of  Arrangements  and  the  Chief  Mar- 
shal a  few  days  before  the  ceremonies  took  place. 

'  CITY  OF  BOSTON:  CEREMONIES  ON  THE  OCCASION  OF  THE 
DEDICATION  OF  THE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  BUILDING,  BOYL- 
STON  STREET,  JANUARY  1,  1858. 

COMMITTEE  OF  ARRANGEMENTS. 
ALDERMEN. 

OLIVER  FROST,  JOSEPH  M.  WIGHTMAN, 

SAMUEL  HATCH. 

COMMON  COUNCIL. 

JOSEPH  A.  POND,  FREDERICK  L.  WASHBURN, 

JOSEPH  SMITH,  FREEMAN  M.  JOSSELYN,  JR., 

WILLIAM  PARKMAN,  JACOB  A.  DRESSER, 

JOSIAH   B.    RICHARDSON. 
COMMISSIONERS  ON  THE  ERECTION  OF  THE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  BUILDING. 

ROBERT  C.  WINTHROP,  President, 
SAMUEL  G.  WARD,  PELHAM  BONNEY, 

NATHANIEL  B.  SHURTLEFF,  JOSEPH  A.  POND, 

EDWARD  EVERETT,  WILLIAM  PARKMAN. 

:'..•*,,-. 

TRUSTEES  OF  THE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY. 

EDWARD  EVERETT,  President, 

GEORGE  TICKNOR,  WILLIAM  W.  GREENOUGH, 

JOHN  P.  BIGELOW,  OLIVER  FROST, 

NATHANIEL  B.  SHURTLEFF,  FREDERICK  L.  WASHBURN. 


28  DEDICATION    OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

DEDICATION  OF  THE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  BUILDING. 

The  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  the  building  for  the  Public 
Library  having  fulfilled  their  trust,  and  being  prepared  to  surrender 
the  same  to  the  City  Government,  the  public  ceremonies  of  Dedication 
will  take  place  at  the  Library  Building,  on  Boylston  street,  on  Friday, 
January  1st,  1858. 

The  City  Authorities  and  invited  guests  will  assemble  at  three 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  at  City  Hall,  School  street.  At  three  and  a  half  o'clock 
a  procession  will  be  formed,  and  proceed,  under  escort  of  the  Boston 
Light  Infantry,  who  have  volunteered  their  services  upon  the  occasion, 
to  the  Library  Building,  where  the  Commissioners  will  be  in  waiting, 
when  appropriate  exercises  will  take  place. 

ORDER  OF  PROCESSION. 

The  procession  will  move  in  the  following  order : 

MILITARY   ESCORT. 

Company  A,  Boston  Light  Infantry,  Captain  Charles  0.  Kogers,  with 
the  Boston  Brigade  Band. 

AID.  Chief  Marshal.  AID. 

Flagg's  Cornet  Band. 

Chief  of  Police. 
Committee  of  Arrangements. 

AID.  His  Honor,  the  Mayor.  AID. 

Trustees  of  the  Public  Library. 

Chaplains. 

Chairman  and  Members  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen. 

President  and  Members  of  the  Common  Council. 

City  Clerk  and  Clerk  of  the  Common  Council. 

Messenger  and  Assistant  Messenger  to  the  City  Council. 

City  Solicitor,  Treasurer,  Auditor,  and  City  Engineer. 

Benefactors  and  Contributors  to  the  Public  Library. 


ARRANGEMENTS.  29 

Librarian  and  Assistants. 

The   Architect,  Contractors,  and  Master  Mechanics   employed  in  the 
erection  of  the  Library  Building. 

AID.  His  Honor,  the  Mayor  elect.  AID. 

Members  elect  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen. 

Members  elect  of  the  Common  Council. 

Past  Mayors  of  Boston. 
Past   Chairmen  of  the  Board   of  Aldermen. 

Past  Presidents  of  the  Common  Council. 
% 

Past  Commissioners  of  the  Library  Building. 

Past  Trustees  of  the  Library. 

School  Committee. 

Superintendent  of  the  Public  Schools. 

Instructors  of  the  Public  Schools. 

Sheriff  of  Suffolk. 

AID.  His  Excellency,  the  Governor  of  Massachusetts  AID. 

and  Staff,  and  Adjutant  General. 

His  Honor,  the  Lieutenant  Governor,  and  Executive  Council. 

Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  Auditor  of  the  Commonwealth. 

Sergeant  at  Arms. 

His  Excellency  the   Governor  elect,  and  His  Honor  the  Lieutenant 
Governor  elect. 

Members  elect  from  Suffolk  of  the  Massachusetts  Legislature  for  1858. 

President  and  Fellows  of  Harvard   College. 

Faculty  and  Librarian  of  Harvard  College. 

Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education. 

Attorney  General. 

Judges  and  other  Officers  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  the  Superior 
Court,  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Probate  and  Police  Courts. 


30  DEDICATION   OF   THE  LIBRARY  BUILDING. 

District  Attorney  and  Assistant  District  Attorney  for  the   County  of 

Suffolk. 

Registers  of  Deeds  and  Probate. 

United  States  Marshal. 

AID.  Judges  and  other  Officers  of  the  U.  S.  Courts.  AID. 

Postmaster  and  United  States  Attorney. 

Collector  of  the  Port  and  Deputies. 
Naval  Officer  and  Surveyor  of  the  Port. 

Navy  Agent  and  Naval  Storekeeper. 

Commissioners  of  the  United  States  Courts. 

The  Board  of  Directors  for  Public  Institutions. 

Cochituate  Water  Board. 
The  Board  of  Public  Land  Commissioners. 

Chief  and  Assistant  Engineers  and  Secretary  of  the  Fire  Department. 

City,  Port,  and  Consulting  Physicians. 

Harbor  Master. 

Assessors. 
City  Registrar  and  Water  Registrar. 

Superintendents  of  Public  Buildings,  Streets,  Lands,  Market,  Lamps, 
Health,  Sewers,  Bridges,  Fire  Alarms,  &c. 

Assistant  Superintendent  of  Health,  and  Surveyor  General  of  Lumber. 

Other  City  Officers  and  Clerks  in  the  various  City  Offices. 
City  Governments  of  Roxbury,  Cambridge,  Charlestown,  and  Chelsea. 

Officers  of  the  following  Associations,  viz : 

American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences. 

Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 

Boston   Society  of  Natural   History. 

New  England  Historic-Genealogical  Society. 


ARRANGEMENTS.  31 

Massachusetts  Charitable  Mechanic  Association. 
American  Statistical  Association. 

Boston  Athenaeum. 

•    Boston  Library  Society. 

Mercantile  Library  Association. 

Mechanic  Apprentices  Library  Association. 

Mattapan  Literary  Association. 

Franklin  Literary  Association. 

Latin  School  Association. 

English  High  School  Association. 

Boston  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 

Boston  Young  Men's  Christian  Union. 

Officers  of  other  Scientific,  Literary  and  Historical  Associations. 
Other  invited  Guests. 

ROUTE  OF  THE  PROCESSION. 

From    City   Hall,   through   School,   Beacon,    Park,    Tremont   and 
Boylston  streets,  to  the  Library  Building. 

ORDER  OF  EXERCISES  AT  THE  LIBRARY  BUILDING. 

1.  Voluntary,  by  Flagg's  Cornet  Band. 

2.  Address,  by  Hon.  Robert  C.  Winthrop,  President  of  the  Board 

of  Commissioners  on  the  Erection  of  the  Library  Building, 
on  delivering  the  keys  to  the  Mayor. 

3.  Address,  in  reply,  by  His  Honor,  Alexander  H.  Rice,  Mayor 

of  Boston. 

4.  Hymn. 

5.  Prayer  of  Dedication,  by  Rev.  Baron  Stow,  D.D. 

6.  Anthem. 


32  DEDICATION   OF   THE  LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

7.  Presentation  of»the  Keys,  by  the  Mayor,  to  the  Board  of  Trus- 

tees of  the  Public  Library,  and  Address  of  Reception,  by 
Hon.  Edward  Everett,  President  of  the  Board. 

8.  Hymn.     The  audience  are  requested  to  unite  in  the  singing. 

9.  Benediction,  by  Rev.  Arthur  B.  Fuller. 

The  singing  will  be  performed  by  a  large  choir  selected  from  the 
Girls'  High  and  Normal  School,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Charles 
Butler. 


The  library  building  will  be  open  from  two  to  three  and  a  half 
o'clock,  for  the  admission  of  ladies  only,  with  tickets,  to  the  galleries. 

Gentlemen  invited  to  participate  in  the  ceremonies  must  join  the 
procession  at  City  Hall. 

Admission  to  the  library  building  will  be  strictly  confined  to  per- 
sons uniting  in  the  procession,  and  cards  of  invitation  must  be  exhibited 
at  the  entrance. 

No  person  will  be  allowed  to  join  the  procession  on  the  route. 

The  limited  capacity  of  the  hall  will  compel  the  Committee  of  Ar- 
rangements to  enforce  these  rules. 

During  the  evening  the  front  of  the  building  will  be  brilliantly 
illuminated  with  a  transparency  and  gas  pipes  prepared  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  appropriately  arranged. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  services,  the  building  will  be  thrown  open 
for  inspection  by  the  city  authorities. 

The  gentlemen  named  below  have  been  appointed  to  act  as  Assist- 
ants to  the  Chief  Marshal,  for  the  procession,  on  the  afternoon  of 
January  1st,  viz  : 

MARSHALS. 

CHARLES  H.  ALLEN,  J.  THOMAS  SMITH, 

J.  AVERT  RICHARDS,  ALBERT  F.  SISE, 

FARNHAM  PLTJMMER,  CHARLES  0.  RICH, 

GEORGE  I.  ROBINSON,  SAMUEL  B.  KROGMAN, 

CHARLES  J.  B.  MOULTON,  FRANCIS  INGEKSOLL. 


ARRANGEMENTS.  33 

The  following  named  gentlemen  have  been  appointed  to  act  as 
marshals  in  the  Library  Building.  To  them  have  been  intrusted  all 
the  arrangements  for  seating  persons  presenting  cards  of  admission,  viz  : 

GRANVILLE  MEARS,  Chief  Marshal. 

ASSISTANTS. 

GEORGE  H.  CHECKERING,  W.  RALPH  EMERSON, 

CHARLES  A.  SMITH,  NATHANIEL  B.  SHURTLEFF,  Jr., 

DAVID  F.  McGiLVRAY,  DAVID  R.  WHITNEY, 

GEORGE  H.  KINGSBURY,  JOHN  F.  ANDERSON, 

WILLIAM  C.  WILLIAMSON,  WILLIAM  B.  SEWALL, 

J.  WILLARD  RICE,  A.  SIDNEY  EVERETT. 

J.  PUTNAM  BRADLEE,   Chief  Marshal. 

The  foregoing  particulars,  besides  being  published 
in  the  daily  newspapers,  were  printed,  together  with 
the  hymns  that  were  to  be  sung  by  the  choir,  in  a 
pamphlet  for  the  use  of  the  Marshals  and  others. 

That  there  might  be  no  impediment  to  the  pro- 
cession during  its  passage  from  the  City  Hall  to  the 
Library  Building  in  Boylston  street,  the  subjoined 
order  was  offered  and  passed  in  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men, and  an  ample  number  of  policemen  were  detailed 
to  carry  the  same  into  effect. 

CITY  OF  BOSTON. 

In  Board  of  Aldermen,  December  28,  1857. 

ORDERED,  That  the  Chief  of  Police  be,  and  he  is 

hereby,  authorized  to  clear  the  following  streets  from 

public  travel,  during  the  formation  and   progress  of 


34  DEDICATION    OF  THE    LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

the  municipal  procession,  on  the  afternoon  of  January 
1st,  1858,  viz : 

School  street,  Beacon  street  from  Tremont  to  Park, 
Park  street  from  Beacon  to  Tremont,  Tremont  street 
from  Park  to  Boylston,  and  Boylston  street  from  Tre- 
mont street  to  the  Public  Library  Building. 

Eead  and  passed. 

Attest : 

SAMUEL  F.  Me  CLEAR Y,  City  Cleric. 

The  special  arrangements  at  City  Hall  were  in- 
trusted, by  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  to  OLIVER 
H.  SPURR,  Esq.,  the  courteous  and  efficient  City  Mes- 
senger, to  whose  zealous  cooperation  and  indefatigable 
efforts  they  were  greatly  indebted. 

Owing  to  the  limited  amount  of  space  that  could 
be  used  for  the  accommodation  of  persons  in  the 
great  hall  of  the  Library  Building,  the  number  of 
tickets  issued  for  the  admission  of  the  public,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  dedication,  was  much  less  than  the 
demand.  These  were  equally  divided  between  the 
sexes,  the  gentlemen  being  provided  with  places  in 
the  area,  while  the  alcoves,  both  on  the  floor  and 
in  the  galleries,  were  assigned  to  the  ladies. 

The  external  part  of  the  building  was  decorated 
with  a  transparency  of  the  city  seal,  painted  by  Mr. 
William  Schutz,  and  illuminated  with  gas,  exhibiting 


ARRANGEMENTS.  35 

in  letters  of  fire,  the  words,  "Public  Library,  1858." 
The  effect  produced  by  the  decorations  was  admirable, 
especially  in  the  evening,  when  the  illumination  was 
very  attractive.  The  fixtures  for  this  purpose  were 
made  by  Messrs.  S.  A.  Stetson  &  Co.,  with  reference 
to  future  use  on  public  holidays. 

The  preliminary  arrangements  for  the  dedication, 
made  as  described  in  the  foregoing  pages,  proved  to 
be  unexceptionable,  and  were  carried  out  with  the 
greatest  precision  and  care.  The  day  selected  for 
the  interesting  ceremonies  being  one  of  the  city  holi- 
days, the  public  schools  were  closed,  as  were  also 
such  of  the  public  offices  as  convenience  did  not 
require  to  be  kept  open. 


CEREMONIES 


CEREMONIES. 


AT  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  on  Friday,  the  first 
day  of  January,  1858,  the  City  Authorities  with  their 
invited  guests,  numbering  about  fifteen  hundred  per- 
sons, assembled  in  City  Hall,  and  at  half  past  three 
o'clock,  precisely,  in  accordance  with  the  published 
notices,  the  procession  was  formed  under  the  direction 
of  J.  PUTNAM  BRADLEE,  Esq.,  Chief  Marshal,  assisted  by 
the  following  gentlemen,  who  acted  as  assistants:  — 
Messrs.  Charles  H.  Allen,  J.  Avery  Richards,  Farnham 
Plummer,  George  I.  Robinson,  Charles  J.  B.  Moulton, 
J.  Thomas  Smith,  Albert  F.  Sise,  Charles  0.  Rich, 
Samuel  B.  Krogman,  and  Francis  lugersoll.  After 
being  formed  four  deep,  the  procession  moved  to  the 
square  in  front  of  the  City  Hall,  where  it  awaited 
the  arrival  of  the  escort,  —  the  Boston  Light  Infantry, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  CHARLES  0.  ROGERS, — 
which,  punctually  at  the  hour  appointed,  entered 
School  street  and  formed  in  order  for  the  escort. 
The  Light  Infantry  wore  their  regimental  overcoats, 


40  DEDICATION    OF   THE   LIBRARY    BUILDING. 

and  numbered  ninety-one  guns.  The  appearance  of 
this  corps  was  such  as  to  elicit  the  warmest  ex- 
pressions of  approbation  from  all  who  witnessed  their 
martial  and  gallant  bearing.  They  were  accompa- 
nied by  the  Boston  Brigade  Band,  Mr.  E.  H.  "Weston, 
leader. 

Without  the  least  delay,  the  procession  moved  to 
the  new  Library  Building  in  Boylston  street,  passing 
through  School,  Beacon,  Park,  Tremont,  and  Boylston 
streets,  which,  throughout  the  whole  route,  were  lined 
with  spectators  of  both  sexes,  among  whom,  however, 
the  ladies  predominated  in  number.  Just  as  the 
clock  of  Park  street  church  struck  four,  the  procession 
halted  in  Boylston  street,  and  at  its  arrival  in  the 
principal  hall  of  the  Library  Building,  which  was 
arranged  for  the  exercises,  the  City  Authorities  and 
their  guests  were  met  by  the  Commissioners,  through 
whose  direction  and  superintendence  the  building  had 
been  erected. 

Already  the  ladies  and  several  others  of  the  in- 
vited guests  had  assembled  in  the  hall.  As  the 
procession  entered,  a  voluntary,  —  Rossini's  overture 
to  Mahomet  II.,  —  was  performed  by  Flagg's  Cor- 
net Band,  twenty  pieces,  under  the  leadership  of 
Mr.  B.  F.  Richardson. 

At  the  northerly  end  of  the  hall  was  a  raised 
platform,  decorated  with  several  magnificent  bouquets 
of  natural  flowers,  the  gift  of  Mr.  John  Galvin,  the  city 


CEREMONIES.  41 

forester.  This  was  occupied  during  the  exercises  by 
his  Honor  Mayor  Rice,  Hon.  Frederic  W.  Lincoln,  Jr., 
the  mayor  elect,  the  Committee  of  Arrangements, 
the  Board  of  Commissioners  for  the  erection  of  the 
building,  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  the  management 
of  the  library,  the  chaplains,  and  several  of  the  ex- 
mayors.  Of  the  past  chief  magistrates  of  the  city  who 
were  present  on  this  occasion  were  the  honorable 
and  venerable  Josiah  Quincy,  senior,  Hon.  Samuel 
A.  Eliot,  Hon.  Josiah  Quincy,  junior,  Hon.  John  P. 
.Bigelow,  and  Hon.  Jerome  V.  C.  Smith.  At  the  left 
of  the  mayor  were  seated  the  Commissioners,  on 
his  right  the  Trustees,  and  at  the  back  part  of 
the  stage  the  Committee  of  Arrangements.  In  the 
immediate  neighborhood  of  these  were  the  mem- 
bers of  the  City  Council,  and  Messrs.  Charles  "Wood- 
berry,  George  W.  Warren,  Edward  F.  Porter  and 
Joseph  Buckley,  past  Commissioners,  and  Messrs. 
Farnham  Plummer,  Sampson  Reed,  Abel  Monroe  and 
Joseph  Story,  past  Trustees.  Immediately  in  front  of 
the  platform  were  seated  many  aged  citizens,  and 
benefactors  of  the  library. 

After  the  voluntary  by  the  Band,  Hon.  OLIVER 
FROST,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements, 
rose,  and  announced  to  the  Board  of  Commissioners 
the  presence  of  the  City  Council,  in  the  following 
words :  — 


42  DEDICATION  OF  THE  LIBRARY  BUILDING. 

MR.  PRESIDENT,  AND  GENTLEMEN  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  COM- 
MISSIONERS: The  City  Council  have  formally  accepted 
your  courteous  invitation  to  be  present  to-day,  to 
receive  from  your  hands  this  beautiful  temple,  now 
to  be  dedicated  to  the  cause  of  popular  and  public 
education,  and  to  the  free  use  of  all  our  people ;  and 
to  participate  in  the  interesting  ceremonies  by  which 
the  people  of  Boston  are  about  to  receive,  in  its 
present  magnificent  form,  this  their  noble  new  year's 
gift  to  the  present  and  all  succeeding  generations. 
It  is  my  pleasing  duty,  in  behalf  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Arrangements,  to  announce  to  you  that 
His  Honor  the  Mayor,  with  the  members  of  the 
Board  of  Aldermen  and  the  Common  Council,  and 
as  many  citizens  and  invited  guests  as  this  spacious 
hall  and  these  galleries  can  accommodate,  are  now  in 
attendance. 

His  Honor  the  Mayor  will  represent  the  City  Coun- 
cil and  the  citizens,  and  awaits  your  pleasure  in  the 
further  ceremonies  of  this  most  happy  new  year's 
festival. 


Hon.  ROBERT  C.  WINTHROP,  President  of  the  Board 
of  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  the  library  build- 
ing, then  rose,  and  on  delivering  the  keys  to  the 
Mayor,  spoke  as  follows;  — 


MR.  WINTHROP'S  ADDRESS. 


IT  may,  perhaps,  have  been  anticipated,  fellow-citizens, 
that  in  pronouncing  the  first  formal  word  on  an  occa- 
sion like  the  present  —  as  it  is  my  official  privilege 
to  do  —  that  in  uttering  the  first  articulate  sentences 
which  will  have  broken  the  silence  of  these  secluded 
alcoves,  and  waked  an  echo  along  these  vaulted  ceil- 
ings —  I  should  at  once  avail  myself  of  the  oppor- 
tunity to  give  expression  to  some  of  those  lofty  and 
swelling  sentiments,  which  can  hardly  fail  to  be  excited 
in  every  thoughtful  and  generous  breast,  by  the  most 
cursory  consideration  of  the  objects  for  which  this 
building  has  been  erected. 

And,  certainly,  the  opportunity  is  a  most  tempt- 
ing one.  Certainly,  the  scene  before  us  is  of  a  char- 
acter to  kindle  emotions  of  more  than  common  depth, 
and  to  inspire  a  strain  of  more  than  ordinary  exulta- 
tion. 

Nor  can  I  refrain  from  yielding  to  the  impulses 
of  the  hour,  so  far,  at  least,  as  to  bid  you  all  welcome 
to  this  hall  of  good  hope. 


44  DEDICATION    OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

Welcome,  fathers  and  mothers  of  our  city :  wel- 
come, young  ladies  and  children  of  the  schools : 
welcome,  lovers  and  patrons  of  literature  and  learn- 
ing, of  science  and  the  arts :  welcome,  friends  to  good 
manners  and  good  morals,  and  to  those  innocent 
recreations  and  ennobling  pursuits  by  which  alone 
vulgarity  and  vice  can  be  supplanted:  welcome,  pastors 
and  teachers  of  our  churches  and  colleges :  welcome, 
rulers  and  magistrates  of  our  city,  of  our  common- 
wealth, and  of  our  whole  country :  welcome,  citizens 
and  residents  of  Boston,  one  and  all,  to  an  edifice 
which  is  destined,  we  trust,  to  furnish  a  resort,  in 
many  an  hour  of  leisure  and  in  many  an  hour  of 
study,  not  for  yourselves  alone,  but  for  those  who 
shall  come  after  you  through  countless  generations ; 
and  where  shall  constantly  be  spread,  and  constantly 
be  served,  without  money  and  without  price,  an  enter- 
tainment ever  fresh,  ever  abundant,  and  ever  worthy 
of  intelligent  and  enlightened  freemen. 

But  I  may  not  forget,  fellow-citizens,  that  the  pecu- 
liar duty,  devolving  upon  me  at  this  moment,  is  rather 
that  of  submitting  something  in  the  nature  of  an 
official  report,  than  of  attempting  an  occasional  or 
holiday  address. 

I  am  sensible,  too,  that  there  are  others  on  this 
platform,  from  whose  lips  the  felicitations  and  exulta- 
tions of  the  hour  will  fall  more  gracefully  and  more 
impressively  than  from  my  own,  and  to  whom,  indeed, 


MR.    WLNTHROP'S   ADDRESS.  45 

when  the  building  shall  once  have  been  surrendered 
to  the  city,  they  will  more  appropriately  belong. 

I  pray  your  indulgence,  therefore,  while  I  proceed, 
without  further  preamble,  to  a  statement  which  is  due 
to  others  as  well  as  to  myself,  —  which  is  demanded 
alike  by  my  relations  to  the  city,  to  my  associ- 
ates, and  to  all  who  have  been  employed  on  the 
work  which  we  are  here  to  inaugurate.  And  if,  in 
the  progress  of  that  statement,  or  at  its  close,  I  should 
be  found  again  indulging  in  a  digression  or  an  epi- 
sode not  quite  within  the  accustomed  limits  of  a  busi- 
ness communication,  you  will  all  pardon  it,  I  am  sure, 
to  the  emotions,  which  no  citizen  of  Boston,  or  cer- 
tainly no  native  son  of  Boston,  under  such  circum- 
stances and  with  such  surroundings,  would  find  it 
easy,  or  even  possible,  altogether  to  repress. 

Mr.  Mayor,  and  gentlemen  of  the  City  Council : — 

On  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  November,  1854, 
the  Chief  Magistrate  of  our  city,  for  the  time  being, 
gave  his  official  sanction  and  signature  to  a  municipal 
ordinance,  "  For  the  establishment  of  a  Board  of  Com- 
missioners on  the  erection  of  a  building  for  the  Public 
Library  of  the  City  of  Boston." 

On  the  twentieth  of  December  following,  that  Board 
was  organized,  and  entered  at  once  on  the  discharge 
of  its  duties. 

On   the   twenty-sixth   of  January,  1855,  a  public 


46  DEDICATION   OF   THE  LIBRARY  BVILDING. 

notice  was  issued  to  the  architects  of  Boston,  inviting 
them  to  furnish  designs  and  estimates  for  the  build- 
ing, agreeably  to  the  requirements  which  had  been 
carefully  considered  and  agreed  upon  by  the  Commis- 
sioners. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  April  thereafter  —  no  less 
than  four  and  twenty  designs  having  in  the  mean  time 
been  received  and  examined  —  that  of  Mr.  Charles 
K.  Kirby  was  selected,  as  entitled  to  the  preference, 
and  as  the  basis  of  all  further  proceedings,  by  the 
votes  of  a  majority  of  the  Board. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  May,  Mr.  Kirby's  design  having 
undergone  such  modifications  as  the  Commissioners 
deemed  desirable,  sealed  proposals  were  invited,  by 
a  public  advertisement,  for  the  brick,  stone  and  iron 
work,  and  for  all  the  other  materials  and  labor,  neces- 
sary to  complete  the  exterior  of  the  proposed  edifice. 

On  the  fourteenth  day  of  June,  the  Commissioners 
entered  into  a  contract  for  constructing  the  entire 
framework  of  the  building,  with  Mr.  Nathan  Drake, 
an  experienced  mechanic  of  Boston,  wrhose  proposals 
were  adjudged  to  be,  upon  the  whole,  the  most  favor- 
able for  the  city. 

On  the  seventeenth  day  of  September,  1855, —  it 
being  the  two  hundred  and  twenty-fifth  anniversary 
of  the  birthday  of  Boston,  —  the  corner-stone  of  the 
structure  was  laid,  with  simple  but  solemn  and  appro- 
priate ceremonies,  in  presence  of  the  municipal  author- 


MR.   WINTHROP'S   ADDRESS.  47 

ities  and  of  a  great  multitude  of  the  people,  by  His 
Honor  Jerome  V.  C.  Smith,  then  Mayor  of  the  City. 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  April,  1856,  sealed  pro- 
posals were  invited,  by  another  public  notice,  for  fur- 
nishing the  materials  and  performing  the  work  required 
for  the  interior  construction  and  finish  of  the  building, 
agreeably  to  plans  and  specifications  which  had  been 
carefully  prepared  by  the  architect  and  approved  by 
the  Board. 

On  the  succeeding  twenty-third  day  of  July,  con- 
tracts were  signed  by  the  Commissioners  with  Messrs. 
Morrison  &  Shaw,  carpenters;  with  Messrs.  Denio  & 
Roberts,  blacksmiths ;  with  Messrs.  Wentworth  &  Co., 
marble  workers ;  with  Messrs.  Philip  &  Thomas  Kelley, 
plaster  and  stucco  workers;  with  Mr.  Lucius  Newell, 
painter  and  glazier ;  with  Mr.  Andrew  J.  Gavett,  brass 
founder;  and  with  Messrs.  Strater  &  Buckley,  plumb- 
ers, —  for  furnishing  the  materials  and  performing  the 
work  pertaining  to  their  respective  departments  of  Me- 
chanic Art. 

On  the  twentieth  of  May,  1857,  another  contract 
was  entered  into  with  Messrs.  Morrison  &  Shaw,  for 
preparing  and  setting  up,  agreeably  to  the  admirable 
system  of  Dr.  Shurtleff,  all  the  shelving,  which  it  was 
thought  best  to  have  arranged  and  set  up  at  present, 
in  both  stories  of  the  building.  On  the  same  day  a 
contract  was  made  with  Mr.  William  Schutz,  for  paint- 
ing and  decorating  the  walls  and  ceilings  of  the  vesti- 


48  DEDICATION   OF   THE  LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

bule  and  principal  apartments  on  the  lower  story ;  and 
on  the  nineteenth  of  June  following,  a  similar  contract 
was  signed  with  the  same  artist  for  tinting  and  orna- 
menting this  large  library  hall. 

Several  small  contracts  for  incidental  work,  not  im- 
portant to  be  mentioned  on  this  occasion,  have  been 
subsequently  entered  into  by  the  Board. 

And  now,  at  length,  Mr.  Mayor  and  gentlemen,  on 
this  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord, 
1858,  —  in  the  year  of  our  city,  '(anno  urbis  conditce,) 
228,  —  in  the  year  of  the  independence  of  our  beloved 
country,  82, — your  Commissioners  have  the  happiness 
to  announce,  that  these  contracts  have  all  been  sub- 
stantially fulfilled,  and  that  the  work  committed  to 
them  has  been  accomplished ;  and  they  are  here  to 
exhibit  the  finished  edifice  to  the  authorities  of  the 
city,  to  deliver  up  the  keys  to  His  Honor  the  Mayor, 
and  to  ask  for  themselves,  that,  so  soon  as  a  few  little 
matters  of  fixture  or  of  furniture  shall  have  been 
arranged,  and  so  soon  as  their  accounts  shall  have 
been  duly  audited  and  settled,  they  may  receive  an 
honorable  discharge  from  the  service  in  which  they 
have  so  long  been  engaged. 

It  was  at  one  time  contemplated  by  the  City  Coun- 
cil, —  as  you  are  well  aware,  sir,  —  that  this  surrender 
of  the  building  should  be  attended  with  a  more  stately 
ceremonial  and  a  more  sumptuous  display  than  are 
witnessed  here  to-day ;  and  it  was  confidently  hoped 


MR.    WINTHROP'S   ADDRESS.  49 

by  the  Commissioners,  that  every  thing  would  be  in 
readiness  for  that  purpose  on  the  seventeenth  day  of 
September  last;  —  so  that  the  same  memorable  mu- 
nicipal anniversary  which  had  been  so  auspiciously 
associated  with  the  commencement  of  the  structure, 
might  witness  also  its  final  completion  and  dedication. 

But  unavoidable  delays  —  unavoidable,  certainly, 
so  far  as  the  Commissioners  were  concerned,  and 
arising,  in  great  part,  from  the  interruption  occasioned 
by  the  unusual  length  and  severity  of  the  last  two 
winters — have  postponed  this  consummation  until  the 
present  moment ;  —  and  now,  I  need  hardly  say  that 
anything  of  elaborate  out-door  pageant  and  parade 
would  have  been  alike  uncongenial  with  the  season 
of  the  year  and  with  the  circumstances  of  the  times. 

But  the  Commissioners  were  of  opinion  that  nothing 
less  could  be  done  on  their  part,  before  resigning  their 
trust,  than  to  invite  the  constituted  authorities  of  the 
city,  with  such  guests  as  they  might  think  fit  to  bring 
with  them,  to  visit  and  view  the  building ;  to  exam- 
ine and  thoroughly  inspect  the  work,  which  has  at 
last  been  finished;  and  to  assume  and  exercise  the 
responsibility  —  which  rightfully  belongs  to  them, 
and  to  them  alone — of  transferring  it  to  the  custody 
of  the  Trustees  of  the  Library,  and  of  solemnly  dedi- 
cating it  to  the  noble  uses  for  which  it  was  designed. 

And  most  happily,  fellow-citizens,  —  most  happily 
for  us  all,  —  this  new  year's  holiday  has  presented 


50  DEDICATION    OF   THE    LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

itself  at  the  precise  moment  when  our  preparations 
were  completed,  as  at  once  the  most  convenient  and 
the  most '  appropriate  day  for  such  a  purpose ;  ena- 
bling us  to  associate  all  the  joyous  emotions,  all  the 
friendly  greetings,  all  the  cordial  congratulations,  and 
all  the  grateful  thanksgivings,  too,  which  belong  to 
the  opening  of  another  of  these  larger  periods  of  our 
lives,  —  to  associate  and  identify  them  all  with  an 
occasion,  from  which  is  destined  to  be  dated,  as  we 
trust,  the  opening  of  a  new  era  in  the  opportunities 
and  advantages  of  the  people  of  Boston,  for  carrying  on 
the  great  work  of  self-education,  of  mutual  improve- 
ment, and  of  moral,  intellectual  and  spiritual  culture. 

I  am  persuaded,  Mr.  Mayor,  that  you  could  have 
desired  no  more  delightful  conclusion  to  the  honor- 
able and  faithful  service  which  you  have  rendered  to 
the  city  as  its  Chief  Magistrate,  for  two  years  past, 
than  to  be  the  medium  of  presenting  to  your  fellow- 
citizens  such  a  new  year's  gift  as  I  am  here  to  deliver 
over  to  you  for  that  purpose. 

I  need  hardly  remind  you,  sir,  that  this  substantial 
and  spacious  building  owes  its  existence  exclusively  to 
the  enlightened  liberality  of  that  municipal  govern- 
ment over  which,  for  a  few  days  longer,  at  least,  it  is 
your  privilege  to  preside.  And  I  avail  myself  of  the 
earliest  opportunity  to  acknowledge  most  gratefully, 
in  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  as  now  com- 
posed, and  of  all  who  have  been  associated  with  us 


MR.    WINTHROP'S    ADDRESS.  51 

during  its  existence,  the  unhesitating  promptness  and 
unanimity  with  which  every  appropriation  which  has 
been  asked,  or  even  intimated  as  desirable,  has  been 
granted  by  successive  City  Councils. 

On  one  account,  certainly,  we  might  all  have  wished 
that  those  appropriations  could  have  been  fewer  in 
number,  and  for  a  smaller  aggregate  amount.  I  will 
not  deny  that  the  satisfaction  of  this  occasion  would 
have  been  in  some  degree  enhanced,  if  the  architect 
could  have  succeeded,  as  the  Commissioners  had  so 
earnestly  hoped,  in  furnishing  an  honorable  exception 
to  the  too  common  experience  in  the  erection  of  pub- 
lic buildings,  both  here  and  elsewhere,  by  conforming 
the  expenditures  more  nearly  to  the  original  estimates. 
An  explanatory  statement  upon  this  point,  however, 
has  been  prepared  by  the  architect  himself,  which  we 
trust  and  believe  will  prove  satisfactory  to  all  who 
shall  examine  it,  and  which  is  to  find  a  permanent 
place  on  the  records  of  the  Commission.  And  if  it 
shall  appear  that  the  main  element  of  increased  ex- 
penditure has  resulted  from  the  desire  to  furnish 
additional  strength  to  the  building,  and  additional 
securities  against  dampness  and  against  fire,  no  one 
will  be  in  haste  to  regret  that  any  part  of  it  has 
been  incurred. 

Meantime,  it  is  a  most  agreeable  and  welcome 
reflection  for  the  Commissioners  themselves,  in  this 
connection,  —  and  one,  perhaps,  which  they  might  not 


52  DEDICATION   OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

have  been  altogether  pardoned  for  publicly  indulging 
under  any  other  circumstances,  —  that  no  particle  of 
self-interest  can  anywhere  be  traced,  or  can  anywhere 
be  imputed,  either  in  regard  to  the  postponement  of 
the  period  for  the  completion  of  the  building,  or  in 
regard  to  the  increase  of  the  cost  of  its  construction. 
As  to  the  architect,  certainly,  it  is  but  just  to  say,  not 
only  that  his  remuneration  has  been  extremely  mod- 
erate in  itself,  but  that  it  has  been  in  no  degree  con- 
tingent either  on  the  length  of  time  occupied,  or  on 
the  amount  of  money  expended,  on  the  work  commit- 
ted to  him ;  while,  as  to  the  Commissioners,  they  will 
be  found,  one  and  all,  to  have  adhered  rigidly  to  the 
self-denying  ordinance,  adopted  by  themselves  at  the 
outset  of  their  proceedings,  "  that  no  pecuniary  com- 
pensation, or  allowance  in  any  form,  should  be  received 
by  any  member  of  the  Board,  for  any  service  which 
he  may  render  as  such." 

But  there  is  another  reflection,  Mr.  Mayor,  which 
more  than  reconciles  me  to  any  amount  of  expendi- 
ture which  may  have  been  honestly  incurred  in  the 
execution  of  our  trust.  The  building  which  we  are 
here  to  dedicate  is  eminently  and  peculiarly  a  build- 
ing for  the  people ;  —  not  only  constructed  at  the 
cost,  but  designed  and  arranged  for  the  use,  accom- 
modation and  enjoyment,  of  the  whole  people  of  Bos- 
ton. Almost  all  the  other  public  edifices  which  may 
be  found  within  the  limits  of  our  city,  though  they 


MR.   WINTHROP'S   ADDRESS.  53 

may  be  devoted  to  purposes  in  which  the  many  are 
more  or  less  deeply  and  directly  interested,  are  yet 
specially  and  necessarily  assigned  to  the  occupation 
and  enjoyment  of  a  few.  Our  convenient  and  com- 
fortable City  Hall  is  for  those,  who,  like  yourselves, 
gentlemen,  may  be  intrusted,  from  time  to  time,  with 
the  management  of  our  municipal  affairs.  Our  mas- 
sive Court  House  is  for  the  still  smaller  number,  who 
are  set  apart  for  the  administration  of  civil  or  of 
criminal  justice.  Our  excellent  school  houses  are  for 
the  exclusive  occupation  of  our  children.  But  the 
edifice  within  whose  walls  we  are  assembled  is  em- 
phatically for  the  use  and  the  enjoyment  of  all  the 
inhabitants  of  Boston.  Even  the  old  Cradle  of  Liberty 
itself  is  far  less  frequently  and  uniformly  devoted  to 
the  uses  of  the  whole  people,  than  this  new  Cradle  of 
Literature  and  Learning  will  be.  A  political  canvass, 
or  a  patriotic  celebration,  or  an  anniversary  festival, 
may  fill  that  hall  ten  times,  or  it  may  be  twenty  or 
thirty  times,  in  a  year;  —  but  even  then,  the  free 
discussion  which  justly  belongs  to  all  such  occasions 
involves  an .  element  of  division  and  strife,  of  party, 
of  sect,  or  of  section.  But  this  hall  will  always  be 
open,  and  always  be  occupied,  and  the  free  reading 
which  is  to  find  a  place  in  it,  involves  neither  con- 
tention nor  controversy.  Those  who  entertain  the 
most  discordant  opinions  may  here  sit,  shoulder  to 
shoulder,  enjoying  their  favorite  authors  as  quietly 


54  DEDICATION   OF   THE  LIBRARY    BUILDING. 

and  as  harmoniously  as  those  authors  themselves  will 
repose,  side  by  side,  when  restored  to  a  common  shelf. 

One  of  the  very  conditions  prescribed  by  our  prin- 
cipal benefactor,  —  that  large-hearted  and  open-handed 
native  of  Massachusetts,  JOSHUA  BATES,  whose  bust 
is  at  this  moment  looking  down  upon  us  with  the 
kind  and  genial  expression  so  characteristic  of  its 
honored  original,  —  one  of  the  primary  conditions  of 
his  magnificent  endowment  was  that  this  library  should 
be  "  free  to  all,  with  no  other  restrictions  than  are 
necessary  for  the  preservation  of  the  books."  Here, 
then,  Mr.  Mayor,  there  is  to  be  no  invidious  discrim- 
ination of  station  or  condition,  of  occupation  or  pro- 
fession, of  age  or  of  sex.  No  passport  of  personal 
pretension  or  popular  election  will  be  required  for 
entering  these  doors.  It  is  to  be  a  library  for  the 
whole  people,  and  the  building  which  contains  it  is 
thus,  above  all  others,  the  people's  building. 

And  which  one  of  us,  in  this  view,  fellow-citizens, 
could  find  it  in  his  heart  to  cavil  at  the  cost,  or  to 
complain  that  more  of  economy  and  parsimony  had 
not  been  observed  in  its  construction  ?  Which  one  of 
us  is  disposed  to  maintain  that  the  people  of  Boston, 
in  this  day  and  generation,  ought  to  have  been  con- 
tent with  a  cheaper  and  more  ordinary  edifice  for  a 
purpose  common  to  them  all,  and  preeminently  dear 
to  all  their  hearts?  Which  one  of  us  is  ready  to 
assume  the  ground,  that  the  building  is  too  good  for 


MR.    WINTHROP'S   ADDRESS.  55 

its  objects,  or  too  good  for  its  rightful  occupants  and 
owners?  I  rather  begin  to  fear  that  it  may  not  be 
considered  good  enough. 

When  a  celebrated  ruler  and  orator  of  Greece  was 
arraigned  for  the  costliness  of  some  one  of  the  many 
magnificent  structures  which  are  associated  with  his 
administration,  and  whose  very  ruins  are  now  the 
admiration  of  the  world,  he  is  said  to  have  replied, 
that  he  would  willingly  bear  all  the  odium  and  all 
the  onus  of  the  outlay,  if  the  edifice  in  question  might 
henceforth  bear  his  own  name,  instead  of  being  in- 
scribed with  that  of  the  people  of  Athens.  But  the 
people  of  ancient  Athens  indignantly  rejected  the  idea, 
and  refused  to  relinquish,  even  to  the  illustrious  and 
princely  Pericles,  the  glory  of  such  a  work. 

Nor  will  the  people  of  Boston,  I  am  persuaded,  be 
less  unwilling  to  disown  or  abandon  the  credit  which 
is  legitimately  theirs,  for  the  noble  hall  in  which  we 
are  assembled ;  —  and  while  the  munificence  of  bene- 
factors, abroad  and  at  home,  and  the  diligence  and 
devotion  of  Trustees  or  of  Commissioners,  may  be 
remembered  with  gratitude  by  us  all,  the  City  her- 
self—  "  our  illustrious  parent,"  as  she  was  well  entitled 
by  our  venerable  benefactor,  Mr.  JONATHAN  PHILLIPS  — 
will  never  fail  to  claim  the  distinction  as  exclusively 
her  own,  that,  with  no  niggardly  or  reluctant  hand, 
but  promptly,  liberally,  and  even  profusely,  if  you  will, 
she  supplied  the  entire  means  for  its  erection. 


56  DEDICATION   OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

For  myself,  certainly,  Mr.  Mayor,  I  have  no  excuses 
or  apologies  to  offer  here  to-day; — nor  shall  I  ever  be 
found  shrinking  from  my  just  share  of  the  responsi- 
bility for  the  expense  which  has  been  incurred  here. 
Conscious  of  having  omitted  no  effort  in  our  power 
to  secure  all  reasonable  economy,  if  censure  should 
ever  fall  upon  the  Commissioners  from  any  quarter, — 
which  I  have  not  the  slightest  reason  to  apprehend, — 
we  shall  arm  ourselves,  I  imagine,  with  the  panoply  of 
that  philosophy,  which  fell  almost  unconsciously,  at  one 
of  our  meetings,  from  the  lips  of  our  valued  associate, 
Alderman  Bonney,  —  when  he  said,  in  language  not 
unworthy  of  being  ( included  in  the  next  edition  of 
" The  World's  Laconics,"  —  "I  am  not  afraid  of  the 
blame  I  may  get,  but  only  of  that  which  I  may 
deserve." 

It  would  hardly  be  becoming  in  me,  fellow-citizens, 
to  indulge  on  this  occasion  in  any  phrases  of  compli- 
ment, or  even  of  acknowledgment,  towards  those,  who 
have  been  connected  with  me  in  the  interesting  com- 
mission which  is  now  about  to  terminate.  It  is  well 
known  to  the  City  Council  that  Mr.  Samuel  G.  Ward 
and  Dr.  Nathaniel  B.  Shurtleff,  together  •  with  myself, 
have  been  members  of  the  Board  from  its  original 
organization,  on  the  twentieth  of  December,  1854. 
Mr.  Joseph  A.  Pond  has,  also,  been  with  us,  on  the 
part  of  the  Common  Council,  since  the  thirteenth  of 
April,  1855.  Alderman  Bonney  has  been  a  member 


MR.   WINTHROP'S   ADDRESS.  57 

of  the  Board  for  two  years ;  the  Hon.  Edward  Everett 
for  a  year  and  a  half;  and  Mr.  William  Parkman,  of 
the  Common  Council,  for  nearly  a  year. 

We  are  all  here  to-day,  fellow-citizens,  in  your 
presence,  to  render  an  account  of  our  stewardship, 
jointly  and  severally ;  and  it  is  fitter,  in  every  view, 
that  others  should  pass  judgment  upon  us  and  upon 
our  acts,  than  that  we  should  presume  to  bear  wit- 
ness to  the  fidelity  of  each  other.  I  may  not  forget, 
however,  that,  during  the  progress  of  our  work,  we 
have  enjoyed  the  valuable  and  efficient  aid  of  others ; 
and  I  should  be  unjust  to  allow  the  occasion  to  pass 
away,  without  at  least  mentioning  the  names  of  Mr. 
George  Odiorne  and  Mr.  George  W.  Warren,  who 
were  associated  with  the  commission  during  the  first 
three  months  of  its  existence ;  —  of  Mr.  Charles  Wood- 
berry,  Mr.  Edward  F.  Porter,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Buckley, 
who  represented  the  two  branches  of  the  City  Council 
at  the  Board  for  nearly  a  year;  —  and  of  Mr.  George 
Ticknor,  who  was  one  of  the  representatives  of  the 
Trustees  of  the  library  for  a  full  year  and  a  half, — 
during  the  most  laborious  and  responsible  portion  of 
our  proceedings. 

But  I  need  not  detain  you  longer,  Mr.  Mayor, 
with  any  detailed  recital  of  names,  or  of  dates,  or  of 
doings.  The  ordinance  of  the  city  under  which  we 
have  acted,  expressly  provided  that  "the  Commis- 
sioners should  meet  at  stated  periods,  and  cause  a 


58  DEDICATION    OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

record  of  their  proceedings  to  be  kept;  and  that  for 
this  purpose  the  Librarian  of  the  Public  Library 
should  act  as  their  clerk."  Those  stated  meetings 
have  been  held,  and  those  records  have  been  kept. 
And  here,  sir,  in  the  ponderous  volume  before  us, 
which  is  presently  to  be  deposited  in  the  archives 
of  the  city,  are  the  recorded  proceedings  of  no  less 
than  one  hundred  and  forty-five  meetings  —  seventy- 
three  of  them  stated  meetings,  and  seventy-two  of 
them  adjourned  or  special  meetings ;  —  and  every 
motion,  vote,  report,  —  every  proposal,  specification, 
contract  and  payment,  —  will  here  be  found  fully 
and  carefully  inscribed.  It  would  be  strange,  indeed, 
sir,  if  some  occasional  evidence  of  temporary  disa- 
greement, or  even  of  important  and  permanent  differ- 
ence of  opinion,  should  not  appear  on  these  pages; — 
but,  taken  as  a  whole,  they  will  exhibit  not  only  a 
punctuality  of  attendance  and  a  willingness  for  work, 
but  a  harmony  of  counsel,  a  unanimity  of  decision, 
and  a  unity  of  action,  which  cannot  be  remembered 
by  any  of  us  at  this  hour  without  the  highest  satis- 
faction. 

These  records,  let  me  add,  Mr.  Mayor  and  gentle- 
men of  the  City  Council,  are  all  in  the  fair,  round, 
legible  hand  of  our  faithful  and  industrious  clerk, 
Mr.  Edward  Capen,  whose  labors  in  this  behalf  have, 
as  you  know,  been  superadded  to  those  which  he  has 
been  called  upon  to  perform  in  his  capacity  of  Libra- 


MR.   WINTHROP'S   ADDRESS.  59 

rian  to  this  institution.  As  these  services  were  ex- 
pressly assigned  to  him  by  the  City  Government,  the 
Commissioners  have  not  felt  at  liberty  to  make  him 
any  allowance  out  of  the  funds  which  have  been 
appropriated  to  the  building.  But  I  should  be  unjust 
to  the  sense  which  we  all  entertain  of  his  untiring 
industry  and  unfailing  accuracy,  if  I  did  not  cordially 
commend  him  to  the  grateful  consideration  and  liberal 
remuneration  of  those  by  whom  he  was  employed. 

Nor  can  I  omit  to  bear  testimony  to  the  obliging 
and  assiduous  manner  in  which  the  architect  has  con- 
stantly attended  to  the  wishes  and  directions  of  the 
Board,  and  to  the  unwearied  zeal  with  which  he  has 
fulfilled  the  important  trust  which  was  committed 
to  him.  His  work  is  before  you,  gentlemen  of  the 
City  Council  and  fellow-citizens,  and  that  work  will 
speak  for  itself,  and  speak  for  him,  far  more  im- 
pressively, and  far  more  impartially,  than  any  one 
of  those  could  speak,  who  have  been  associated  with 
him  in  all  his  cares,  and  who  have  necessarily  been 
involved  in  so  many  of  his  responsibilities. 

And  so  I  may  say,  too,  of  the  numerous  con- 
tractors, master  mechanics  and  laborers,  who  have 
been  employed  in  constructing  and  finishing  the  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  building.  Their  work  must  speak 
for  them; — and  if  it  fails  to  speak  satisfactorily,  now 
or  hereafter,  no  flattering  words  of  ours  could  cover 
up  their  delinquencies,  or  screen  them  from  merited 


60  DEDICATION   OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

reproach.  But  we  have  no  fear  of  such  a  result. 
It  will  not  have  been  forgotten  by  those  who  have 
been  employed  here,  from  time  to  time,  that  they 
have  been  working,  in  more  than  one  sense,  for  them- 
selves, as  well  as  for  the  Commissioners  and  the  city ; 
— that  not  the  humblest  laborer  among  them  is  to 
be  excluded  from  his  equal  share  of  the  repast  which 
is  here  to  be  enjoyed ; —  and  that  their  own  children, 
and  their  children's  children,  will  be  quite  as  likely 
to  be  found  hereafter  among  the  most  frequent  and 
intelligent  partakers  of  that  repast,  as  those  of  any 
of  their  more  immediate  employers.  Considerations 
like  these  are  enough  to  have  insured  a  zealous 
cooperation  on  the  part  of  all,  certainly,  to  whom 
they  may  have  occurred;  and  we  trust  and  believe, 
that  this  building  will  bear  witness,  in  all  time  to 
come,  to  the  proverbial  intelligence,  fidelity  and  skill 
of  Boston  mechanics. 

It  would  have  been  most  welcome  to  us,  Mr.  Mayor, 
to  be  able  to  say,  that  so  extensive  and  protracted 
a  work  had  been  brought  to  a  close,  without  the 
occurrence  of  a  single  casualty  to  cast  a  shade  over 
the  joyousness  of  this  occasion.  Within  a  few  weeks 
past,  however,  a  worthy  painter,  Mr.  Thomas  Rowin, 
fell  from  a  scaffold  on  one  of  the  towers  in  the  rear, 
at  a  height  too  great  to  allow  the  slightest  hope  of 
his  surviving  the  fall.  It  was  decided  by  those  to 
whom  we  appealed  for  advice,  that  no  provision  could 


MR.   WINTHROP'S   ADDRESS.  61 

be  legally  made  for  the  relief  of  his  family,  either  by 
this  Board  or  by  the  City  Council.  But  prompt  and 
generous  contributions  from  his  sympathizing  fellow- 
workmen,  from  members  of  the  City  Government  in 
their  individual  capacity,  from  members  of  this  Board, 
and  from  other  friends  of  the  library,  have  already 
done  something  —  and  it  is  hoped  that  still  more 
may  be  done,  if  more  be  needed  —  to  relieve  the 
sorrows  and  wants  of  a  widow  and  children,  who 
were  so  strongly  commended,  by  the  circumstances 
of  their  bereavement,  to  the  sympathies  of  the  people 
of  Boston. 

Mr.  Mayor  and  fellow-citizens :  my  relations  to  this 
occasion,  as  I  have  already  intimated,  are  simply  those 
of  a  Building  Commissioner, —  one  of  the  humble 
^Ediles  whom  you  have  intrusted  with  the  erection 
of  an  edifice,  of  which  others  are  henceforth  to  have 
the  responsible  care  and  custody.  My  legitimate 
theme  has  been  of  designs  and  contracts,  of  iron  and 
stone,  of  brick  and  mortar,  —  of  those  who  have 
wielded  the  plane  or  the  trowel,  of  those  who  have 
carried  the  hod,  or  rigged  the  derrick,  or  reared  these 
stately  columns,  or  moulded  these  beautiful  capitals 
and  cornices,  or  given  the  last  hand  to  ceiling  and 
wall  by  these  harmonious  and  exquisite  tints.  It  is 
not  for  me,  to-day,  to  take  up  more  time,  by  enlarging 
on  the  advantages  which  are  to  result  from  the  insti- 
tution which  is  here  to  find  its  permanent  local  hab- 


62  DEDICATION   OF   THE  LIBRARY  BUILDING. 

itation.  Still  less  may  I  attempt  to  deal  with  those 
who  have  contributed  the  literary  treasures,  which 
are  soon  to  be  unfolded  and  displayed  here.  Other 
voices,  now  or  hereafter,  will  do  justice  to  the  original 
projectors  and  founders  of  the  institution.  Other 
voices,  now  or  hereafter,  will  be  heard  in  grateful 
commemoration  of  the  munificent  donations  of  JOSHUA 
BATES  and  JONATHAN  PHILLIPS  among  the  honored  living, 
and  of  ABBOTT  LAWRENCE  among  the  lamented  dead, 
whose  names  are  preeminent  on  the  long  roll  of  our 
benefactors.  Nor  will  those  voices  be  wanting  in 
acknowledgment  to  the  many  hundreds  of  others  who 
have  entitled  themselves  by  ever  so  small  a  contribu- 
tion to  a  place  upon  that  roll. 

I  may  be  permitted  to  say,  however,  before  taking 
leave  of  this  topic,  that  in  view  of  the  contemplated 
dedication  of  this  building  in  September  last,  I  was 
directed  by  the  Commissioners  to  address  a  letter  to 
our  distant  and  distinguished  benefactor,  Mr.  BATES, 
inviting  his  personal  presence  on  the  occasion.  And 
I  am  sure  I  shall  be  excused  by  him  and  by  your- 
selves, for  reading  to  you,  in  this  connection,  a  brief 
extract  from  his  reply.  It  was  dated,  London,  August 
27,  1857,  and,  after  thanking  me  for  my  letter,  it  con- 
tinues as  follows:  — 

I  am  happy  to  learn  that  the  Library  is  approaching  com- 
pletion, and  that  it  is  contemplated  to  open  it  next  month. 
You  express  a  wish  that  I  should  be  present.  I  can  assure 


MR.   WENTHROP'S   ADDRESS.  63 

you  that  nothing  would  give  me  more  pleasure  than  to  visit 
Boston,  where  I  began  my  career,  and  to  whose  citizens,  by 
their  confidence  and  support  in  time  of  need,  I  am  indebted 
for  whatever  of  fortune  or  reputation  I  possess.  Although 
my  contemporaries,  with  few  exceptions,  are  laid  in  their 
graves,  the  memory  of  the  past  is  an  unfailing  source  of  hap- 
piness to  me,  and  makes  me  regret  the  more  that  I  cannot 
be  with  you  on  the  opening  of  the  new  Library.  I  shall  hope 
to  make  you  a  visit  a  year  or  two  hence,  when,  if  I  mistake 
not,  the  importance  of  the  Library  to  the  rising  generation 
will  be  more  fully  appreciated ;  —  when  it  will  be  admitted 
that  the  City,  the  Trustees,  and  the  contributors  have  accom- 
plished a  great  work,  that  will  command  the  gratitude  of  the 
people  through  all  time. 

Believe  me,  very  truly,  yours, 

JOSHUA  BATES. 

Admirable  utterance  of  a  generous  and  noble 
spirit!  We  wafted  the  assurances  of  our  grateful 
remembrance  of  his  liberality  over  a  summer  sea, 
while  we  were  gathered,  a  little  more  than  two 
years  ago,  upon  the  firm  foundations  and  around  the 
substantial  corner-stone  beneath  us.  And  now  not 
even  the  raging  of  a  wintry  ocean  shall  intercept 
the  transmission  of  our  renewed  and  redoubled  grati- 
tude for  his  munificence,  when  the  head-stone  has 
been  brought  forth  with  shoutings.  There  is  no 
winter  in  his  bounty,  and  there  shall  be  none  in  our 
acknowledgment.  May  the  year  which  is  just  opening 
be  to  him  a  year  of  unalloyed  happiness,  prosperity, 
and  health;  and  may  it  not  come  quite  to  a  close, 


64  DEDICATION   OF   THE  LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

without  affording  to  the  people  of  Boston  the  high 
gratification  of  welcoming  him  within  the  walls  of  an 
edifice,  to  which  he  will  have  contributed  so  large  a 
proportion  of  its  richest  and  most  cherished  treas- 
ures. 

It  only  remains  for  me,  as  President  of  the  Board 
of  Commissioners,  and  in  their  name,  to  deliver  to 
you,  Mr.  Mayor,  these  keys  of  the  principal  doors 
of  the  building  which  we  have  erected,  at  once  as  a 
symbol  that  our  work  is  finished,  and  as  an  earnest 
of  the  delivery  of  the  building  itself  to  the  city,  over 
which  you  preside.  We  do  not  presume  to  present 
it  to  you  as  a  faultless  piece  of  architecture.  We 
are  not  vain  enough  to  imagine  that  critical  eyes 
may  not  discover,  both  in  the  design  and  in  the  exe- 
cution, features  which  might  have  been  improved. 
But  we  do  present  it  as  a  convenient,  substantial, 
spacious  structure  —  entirely  adapted  to  its  purposes, 
and  carefully  arranged  for  the  most  economical  admin- 
istration of  the  institution  for  which  it  is  intended — 
capacious  enough  for  two  or  three  hundred  thousand 
volumes,  and  for  as  many  readers  as  are  ever  likely 
to  visit  it  at  one  and  the  same  tune — with  no 
deficiency  of  light  or  air  —  secure,  we  have  full  con- 
fidence, from  the  dangers  of  fire  —  and  which,  while 
it  is  devoid  of  any  ostentatious  ornament  without, 
and  while  it  exhibits  no  excessive  or  fanciful  em- 
bellishment within,  is  yet  in  no  respect  unworthy, 


MR.   WINTHROP'S   ADDRESS.  65 

either  within  or  without,  of  the  liberal  and  enlightr 
ened  community  in  whose  service  it  has  been  erected. 

We  present  it  to  you,  indeed,  Mr.  Mayor,  a  mere 
mass  of  naked  walls  and  columns  and  arches.  But 
these  vacant  alcoves  will  soon  be  occupied.  These 
empty  shelves  will  soon  be  filled.  Gems  and  jewels 
more  precious  than  any  which  the  mines  of  either 
continent  can  ever  yield,  will  soon  find  their  places 
in  the  caskets  and  cabinets  which  have  here  been 
prepared  for  them;  and  living  jewels,  like  those  of 
the  Roman  matron  of  old  —  even  the  sons  and 
daughters  of  our  city — will  soon  be  seen  clustered 
around  them. 

It  was  a  poetical  and  beautiful  conceit  of  the 
great  philosopher  of  our  motherland,  —  of  Bacon,  I 
mean,  the  contemporary  and  fellow-countryman  of 
our  Pilgrim  Fathers  —  that  "  libraries  are  as  the 
shrines  where  all  the  relics  of  the  ancient  saints, 
full  of  true  virtue,  and  that  without  delusion  or  im- 
posture, are  preserved  and  reposed."  But  Cicero, 
methinks,  did  better  justice  to  the  theme.  We  are 
told  that  when  that  illustrious  orator  and  states- 
man saw  the  books  which  composed  his  precious 
private  library,  fairly  arranged  in  the  apartment 
which  he  had  provided  for  them,  in  his  villa  at  An- 
tium,  he  wrote  to  his  friend  Atticus,  u  Postea  vero 
quam  Tyramiio  mihi  libros  disposuit,  mem  addita  videtur 
meis  cedibus"  "Now  that  my  books  have  been  put 


66  DEDICATION   OF  THE    LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

in  their  places  by  your  learned  Greek,  Tyrannic,  a 
soul  seems  to  have  been  added  to  my  dwelling." 

And  our  own  American  Cicero  is  at  this  moment 
at  your  side,  sir,  —  prepared  to  receive  these  keys 
from  your  hand,  in  behalf  of  the  Trustees  over 
whom  he  so  fitly  presides ;  and  under  his  auspices, 
and  with  the  aid  of  his  associates,  it  is  hardly  too 
much  to  say  that  a  living,  breathing,  imperishable 
soul  will  have  been  infused  into  this  now  merely 
material  structure.  Yes,  my  friends,  within  these 
walls  shall  soon  be  gathered,  not  merely  the  mighty 
masters  of  philosophy  and  rhetoric,  of  history  and 
poetry,  whom  the  Koman  Cicero  recognized  and  rev- 
erenced as  introducing  a  soul  into  his  dwelling,  but 
the  great  lights  of  all  ages,  the  wise  and  learned  of 
all  climes  —  and  those,  especially,  who  have  adorned 
a  civilization,  and  vindicated  a  liberty,  and  illustrated 
a  Christianity  which  that  Cicero  never  conceived  of, 
shall  be  congregated  around  them.  Here  soon  shall 
many  a  waiting  heart  be  kindled  into  something  of 
the  exultation  of  that  good  old  Bishop  of  Norwich, 
when  he  exclaimed,  on  the  sight  of  a  great  library, 
"What  a  happiness  is  it,  that  without  all  offence  of 
necromancy,  I  may  here  call  up  any  of  the  ancient 
worthies  of  learning,  whether  human  or  divine,  and 
confer  with  them  of  all  my  doubts !  —  that  I  can  at 
pleasure  summon  up  whole  synods  of  reverend  fathers 
and  acute  doctors,  from  all  the  coasts  of  the  earth, 


MR.    WINTHROP'S   ADDRESS.  67 

to    give   their  well-studied  judgments   on    all    points 
and  questions  which  I  may  propose  ! " 

And  not  the  reverend  fathers  and  acute  doctors 
only  shall  answer  to  our  call; — but  here  also  the 
poets  of  all  ages  shall  be  ever  ready  to  sing  to  .us 
their  choicest  strains;  —  the  dramatists  of  all  ages  to 
rehearse  to  us  their  richest  scenes  of  wit  or  of  woe ; 
— the  orators  of  all  ages  to  recite  to  us  the  triumphant 
argument,  or  the  thrilling  appeal,  which  may  have 
shaken  empires  from  their  base,  or  changed  the  cur- 
rent of  the  world's  affairs.  Here,  too,  the  practical 
inventor  and  ingenious  mechanic  shall  exhibit  to  us 
his  specifications,  his  plans,  and  his  drawings.  Here 
the  great  interpreters  of  Nature  shall  unfold  to  us  the 
mechanism  of  the  heavens,  the  testimony  of  the  rocks, 
and  the  marvels  and  mysteries  of  animal  and  vege- 
table life.  Here  the  glowing  pictures  of  fiction  and 
fancy  shall  pass  and  repass  before  our  vision,  beneath 
the  magic  wand  of  a  Scott,  a  Dickens,  or  a  Cooper; — 
the  living  portraits  of  sages  and  patriots,  of  other 
lands  and  of  our  own  land,  be  displayed  to  us  by  a 
Guizot  or  a  Brougham,  a  Carlyle  or  a  Campbell,  a 
Sparks  or  an  Irving; — and  the  grander  panorama  of 
history  be  unrolled  for  us  by  a  Gibbon  or  a  Grote,  a 
Hume  or  a  Macaulay,  a  Bancroft,  a  Prescott,  or  a 
Motley. 

But  I  can  do  no  justice  to  a  theme  like  this  in  the 
closing  sentences  of  a   discourse,  which  has  already 


68  DEDICATION   OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

occupied  you  too  long, —  and  I  leave  it,  all  unfinished, 
for  those  who  are  to  follow  me. 

Let  me  conclude,  Mr.  Mayor  and  gentlemen  of  the 
City  Council,  by  thanking  you  once  more,  in  the  name 
of  my  associates  and  in  my  own  name,  for  the  confi- 
dence with  which  you  have  honored  us  in  the  exe- 
cution of  our  commission,  and  let  me  offer  you  our 
best  wishes  and  prayers  that  this  institution  may  fulfil 
the  most  sanguine  expectations  of  its  founders  and 
friends.  May  God,  in  his  goodness,  grant  that  increased 
supplies  of  wisdom  and  knowledge  and  virtue,  for  us 

• 

and  our  posterity,  may  be  its  rich  and  abundant  fruits ; 
—  that  it  may  be  so  sanctified  by  His  grace  to  the 
highest  interests  of  the  whole  community,  that  here,  at 
least,  the  tree  of  knowledge  may  never  be  disunited 
from  the  tree  of  life; — and  that,  constituting,  as  it 
will,  the  complement  and  the  crown  of  our  great 
republican  system  of  popular  education,  it  may  do  its 
full  part  in  bearing  up  and  sustaining,  for  a  thousand 
generations,  a  well-compacted  and  imperishable  fabric 
of  freedom; — of  that  freedom  which  rests  upon  intelli- 
gence, which  must  be  regulated  by  law,  and  which  can 
only  be  maintained  by  piety,  philanthropy  and  patriot- 
ism. 


At  the  close  of  Mr.  Winthrop's  address,  His  Honor 
ALEXANDER  H.  KICE,  Mayor  of  the  city,  rose,  and  on 
receiving  the  keys  of  the  building  spoke  as  follows: — 


MAYOR  BICE'S  ADDRESS. 


A  LITTLE  more  than  three  years  ago,  Mr.  President, 
there  was  committed  to  your  charge  and  to  that  01 
your  respected  associates  in  the  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners for  the  erection  of  a  Public  Library  Build- 
ing, an  undertaking,  which,  whether  it  be  regarded 
in  respect  to  the  importance  of  a  correct  and  appro- 
priate architectural  design  and  thorough  mechanical 
execution,  or  in  its  connection  with  an  institution 
which  cannot  fail  to  bestow  the  most  beneficent  and 
lasting  results  upon  the  community  in  which  we  live, 
has  scarcely  been  surpassed  by  any  enterprise  in  which 
this  city  has  engaged.  It  has  long  been  peculiar  to 
Boston  that  nearly  all  her  institutions  of  education, 
literature,  science,  art  and  charity,  as  well  as  of  re- 
ligion, are  permanently  established  in  structures  appro- 
priated to  their  especial  use ;  and  if  the  number  and 
variety  of  these  institutions  evince  the  power  of  par- 
amount ideas  over  the  minds  of  our  population,  so 
likewise  the  number  and  value  of  these  structures 
may  illustrate  the  general  subordination  of  wealth 


70  DEDICATION   OF  THE  LIBRARY    BUILDING.  S 

to  the  higher  behests  of  the  intellect  and  the  heart. 
To  the  many  imposing  structures  already  thus  appro- 
priated, and  which  have  chiefly  been  erected  by  pri- 
vate bounty  or  by  associated  enterprise,  this  noble 
edifice  —  the  special  object  of  your  care  and  super- 
vision—  has  at  length  been  added,  at  the  public 
expense. 

The  work  committed  to  your  hands  was  the  erection 
of  a  commodious  and  substantial  building,  with  appro- 
priate apartments  for  the  library  and  reading  rooms, 
and  other  accommodations  for  those  who  might  desire 
to  avail  themselves  of  its  privileges ;  —  a  building, 
which,  neither  destitute  of  beauty  nor  overwrought 
with  ornament,  should  yet  be  a  suitable  and  generous 
fulfilment  of  the  only  condition  which  was  appended 
to  the  munificence  of  its  early,  and  constant,  and 
preeminent  benefactor.  The  enterprise  was  given  in 
charge  to  your  commission,  Mr.  President,  with  no 
other  guaranty  for  its  faithful  execution  than  that 
which  the  government  found  in  names  honorably 
identified  with  our  local  history,  or  proved  by  varied 
and  valuable  service  in  public  and  social  life.  The 
confidence  which  crowned  the  inception  of  the  work 
has  continued  with  singular  completeness  and  unwa- 
vering constancy  to  this  hour;  when,  as  we  pass 
through  these  stately  halls,  and  witness  their  com- 
prehensive and  ample  design,  the  strength  and  solidity 
of  then:  foundations  and  walls,  the  fitness  and  adapta- 


MAYOR   RICE'S   ADDRESS.  71 

tion  of  each  apartment  to  its  use,  and  the  simplicity 
and  beauty  of  all  their  proportions  and  adornments, 
the  whole  becomes  a  testimonial  that  the  public  con- 
fidence has  not  been  misplaced.  For  this  distinguished 
and  gratuitous  service,  Gentlemen  of  the  Commission, 
since  your  generosity  disdains  any  other  reward,  I 
tender  to  you  the  cordial  thanks  of  the  City  Govern- 
ment, in  the  full  assurance  that  their  gratitude  finds 
an  applauding  response  in  the  hearts  of  the  thousands 
whom  they  represent,  and  that  this  service,  so  ably 
and  so  faithfully  performed  in  their  behalf,  will  be 
held  by  posterity  in  honorable  and  grateful  remem- 
brance. 

And  now,  Gentlemen  of  the  City  Council,  that  this 
important  work  is  consummated  and  placed  in  our 
charge,  to  be  consigned  to  still  other  and  well-proved 
custodians,  for  the  high  purpose  to  which  it  is  to 
be  dedicated,  it  is  appropriate  that  we  dwell  for  a 
single  moment  upon  a  few  thoughts  which  the  occa- 
sion suggests.  The  occurrence  of  an  important  event 
in  the  course  of  individual  experience  often  leaves 
indelible  impressions  upon  character,  and  materially 
influences  the  subsequent  history  of  a  life.  And,  how- 
ever large  the  scope  of  hjs  contemplations,  every 
intelligent  observer  will  perceive  that  the  tendencies 
and  conditions  of  communities  and  of  society  in 
general  are  in  like  manner  affected  or  controlled; 
and  also  that  the  forces  by  which  human  progress  is 


72  DEDICATION   OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

developed,  often  break  forth  into  institutions  which 
become  monuments,  not  only  measuring  and  com- 
memorating its  advancement,  but  also  inciting  their 
observers  to  fresh  endeavors. 

The  history  of  the  foundation  of  society  here  is 
familiar.  The  prophetic  appreciation  of  the  fruits  of 
popular  and  universal  education,  and  of  their  value 
in  the  minds  of  the  early  settlers  of  New  England, 
is  continually  brought  before  us  for  grateful  admira- 
tion ;  and  if  we  may  with  any  truthfulness,  or  in  any 
degree,  claim  distinction  in  social  privileges  among 
the  noble  communities  which  make  up  the  whole  of 
a  country  upon  whose  unity  we  delight  to  dwell,  we 
must  acknowledge  that  this  happiness  is  attributable, 
in  no  small  degree,  to  a  fair  improvement  of  advant- 
ages which  have  come  to  us  by  inheritance.  And 
while  we  stand  here  to-day,  and  survey  with  pride 
and  satisfaction  these  towering  columns  and  this  ma- 
jestic hall,  and  contemplate  the  use  to  which  it  is 
destined,  we  fall  far  short  of  the  real  significance  of 
the  structure  if  we  regard  not  its  origin  as  well  as 
its  destiny.  As  surely  as  the  flower  springs  from  the 
seed  in  obedience  to  the  silent  and  mysterious  laws 
of  germination, — as  certainly  as  the  fruit  follows  the 
blossom  which  in  the  dainty  tastefulness  of  nature 
pledges  the  unborn  harvest, — so  inevitably  will  the 
elements  of  thought  and  feeling  become  developed, 


MAYOR   RICE'S   ADDRESS.  73 

in  every  age,  into  institutions  commensurate  with  the 
progress  of  ideas. 

This  institution  is  but  the  perfected  fruit  from 
that  vigorous  root  which  was  planted  in  sixteen  hun- 
dred and  thirty-five,  by  the  master  of  the  original 
free  school  in  Boston,  and  which  first  rose  as  a  single 
stalk,  then  spread  abroad  its  healthful  branches  and 
dropped  its  scions  into  the  earth,  like  the  famous 
banyan  tree  of  India,  till  it  has  multiplied  itself  in 
every  quarter  of  our  municipal  domain,  and  gathers 
beneath  its  refreshing  shades  to-day  nearly  thirty 
thousand  of  our  youthful  population.  This  institu- 
tion, therefore,  is  not  an  accident ;  strictly  speaking,  it 
is  not  a  design,  but  a  beautiful  and  inevitable  result 
of  the  active  influences  which  preceded  it  —  a  result 
fraught  with  the  elements  of  reproductive  power  — 
never  itself  to  be  superseded,  but  to  be  amplified 
and  extended  into  other  forms  and  newer  forces. 

Is  it  possible  there  may  be  some  who  question  the 
usefulness  of  such  an  institution  as  this,  and  the 
expediency  of  this  expenditure?  I  am  sure  that  the 
number  must  be  small,  if,  indeed,  there  be  any.  To 
question  the  worth  of  a  library  is  to  summon  to  trial 
the  value  of  knowledge  itself;  it  is  to  dismiss  as  use- 
less the  literature  of  the  past,  and  to  throw  recklessly 
away  the  flowers  of  genius  which  bloom  around  us 
in  the  present.  For  a  book  that  is  not  worthy  of 
preservation  is  unworthy  of  the  press;  and  without 


10 


74  DEDICATION    OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

the  press  the  domain  of  knowledge  would  soon  be 
limited  to  memory  and  tradition.  How  startling  the 
thought  of  a  world  without  the  great  lights  which 
shine  down  upon  it  from  the  literature  and  the  exam- 
ples of  the  past :  a  world  without  a  Bible,  a  Homer, 
a  Shakespeare,  a  Bacon,  a  Newton,  a  Franklin,  a  La 
Place,  a  Cicero,  a  Chatham,  a  Webster :  a  world 
without  imperial  Caesar,  or  a  more  than  imperial 
Washington :  in  short,  a  world  where  Science,  Ke- 
ligion,  Philosophy,  Statesmanship  and  Patriotism  — 
a  mourning  sisterhood — prolong,  in  darkened  silence, 
their  tireless  vigils  at  the  courts  of  death !  Nor  only 
this  —  the  present  is  every  moment  becoming  the 
past  —  is  there  nothing  in  the  mind  of  the  present 
which  is  worthy  of  preservation  ?  Who  that  has  hung 
in  rapt  enchantment  on  the  silver  tongue  whose 
charming  melody  enriched  the  fame  of  him  beyond 
the  reach  of  common  eulogy  —  that  tongue  whose 
clarion  notes  summoned  the  crowding  throngs  with 
treasure  to  redeem  the  patriot's  grave  —  that  voice 
still  ringing  in  our  ears  from  yonder  hah1,  where  it 
all  but  divinely  spoke  for  charity !  —  who  would 
deprive  the  beggared  future  of  that  voice?  Who 
would  not  stereotype  those  words  in  adamant?  I 
have  somewhere  read  that  literature  is  the  immor- 
tality of  speech;  that  it  embalms  for  ah1  ages  the 
departed  kings  of  learning,  and  watches  over  their 
repose  in  the  eternal  pyramids  of  Fame.  Who 


MAYOR   RICE'S   ADDRESS.  75 

would  deprive  that  tongue  of  its  high  destined  sep- 
ulchre ? 

If  it  were  needful  to  prove  the  value  to  the  public 
of  such  a  treasury  of  knowledge  as  shall  here  be 
gathered,  arguments  might  be  drawn  from  numerous 
sources;  and,  as  they  crowd  upon  my  mind  at  the 
moment,  such  an  institution  ceases  to  be  a  matter  of 
expediency,  and  becomes  the  imperative  demand  of 
the  times  and  of  our  community.  But,  fellow-citizens, 
it  is  not  necessary  here  to  argue  such  a  theme ;  and 
if  it  were,  mine  is  not  the  .voice,  nor  is  this  the 
presence,  in  which  it  should  be  done ;  for  the  duties 
of  this  day  alone  have  thrust  me  before  you  for  a 
moment — a  lowly  mound,  between  these  Alps  and 
Andes  of  eloquence. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen :  our  city  has  sometimes 
been  called  the  Athens  of  America;  sometimes  in 
compliment;  let  it  never  be  in  derision.  The  real 
claim  to  that  shining  title  must  rest  upon  the  cul- 
ture which  is  bestowed  -upon  the  institutions  and  the 
arts,  which  suggest  a  resemblance  to  the  charming 
"  Eye  of  Greece."  In  the  rising  greatness  of  that 
peerless  city,  we  are  told  that  the  enlightened  and 
patriotic  arbiter  of  its  fortunes,  the  patron  of  litera- 
ture and  learning,  not  only  reclaimed  the  works  of 
Homer  from  threatened  oblivion,  but  established  a 
public  library  at  Athens,  open  to  the  free  use  of 
its  citizens,  and  by  these  acts  established  there  the 


76  DEDICATION   OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

home  of  the  Muses.  The  golden  age  of  Cimon  and 
Pericles  followed — the  age  of  the  Gymnasium,  of  the 
Academy,  of  the  Agora,  of  the  temple  of  Eleusis,  of 
the  Parthenon  and  of  the  Propylaea,  and  of  all  the 
culture  which  produced  and  surrounded  them  —  that 
age  of  dazzling  splendor  which  has  not  yet  ceased 
to  excite  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  mankind.  I 
may  not  pause  to  compare  the  civilization  of  that 
age  with  ours,  in  all  that  is  useful  and  beneficent  to 
man;  but  if,  in  our  contemplations  of  the  glory  of 
that  era,  there  come  to  us  impressions  of  exhaust- 
less  wealth,  vast  extent,  and  resources  unapproach- 
able to  us  of  the  present,  let  it  be  remembered  that 
the  wonderful  Athens  of  history  contained  a  popula- 
tion less  than  that  of  Boston  to-day,  and  that  the 
number  of  those  who  might  exercise  the  rights  of 
citizenship  therein  was  less  than  our  number  of 
voters.  How  far  the  free  library  of  Pisistratus  affected 
the  character  and  fortunes  of  the  Grecian  city,  neither 
history  nor  tradition  discloses;  but  we  know  that  it 
preceded  its  power  and  splendor,  and  that  these  all 
came  from  the  brain  and  the  hand  of  man.  Whether 
the  noble  institution  whose  flattering  auspices  we 
here  hail  to-day,  shall  be  the  harbinger  of  a  more 
illustrious  future  to  our  Athens,  may  depend,  in  some 
degree,  upon  the  patronage  which  shall  await  upon 
these  halls;  for  the  power  of  knowledge  is  essen- 
tially the  same  in  every  period  of  time,  though  the 


MAYOR   RICE'S   ADDRESS.  77 

fruits  of  its  cultivation  may  be  changed  by  the  altered 
conditions  of  the  race  and  the  age. 

But  time  forbids  that  I  should  pursue  the  theme; 
a  single  word  more  and  I  have  done.  While  here 
gathered  in  joyous  assemblage  to-day,  there  are  those 
— some  of  whom  are  before  me,  others  are  absent  and 
distant — all  of  whom  should  have  a  place  in  our 
memories.  It  was  the  custom  at  certain  Athenian 
festivals  for  the  knights  to  make  the  circuit  of  the 
Agora,  beginning  at  the  statue  of  Hermes  and  paying 
their  homage  to  the  statues  and  temples  around  it. 
On  this  new  year's  festival,  now  first  celebrated 
within  these  walls,  since  we  have  not  yet  their 
statues  about  us,  let  us  summon  to  our  thoughts,  in 
living  personality,  the  images  of  all  the  noble  bene- 
factors of  our  Public  Library,  the  contributors  of 
funds,  of  books,  and  of  valued  service;  and  let  us 
pay  to  each  the  homage  of  our  hearts'  best  gratitude, 
as  they  pass  through  the  courts  of  our  memories. 
Length  of  days  and  happiness  to  the  living  —  fresh 
laurels  for  the  memory  of  the  departed  —  praises  to 
Heaven  for  their  gifts  and  their  example. 


78  DEDICATION   OF   THE  LIBRARY  BUILDING. 


The  address  of  Mr.  Winthrop  on  presenting  the 
keys  of  the  library  building  to  the  city  government 
was  commenced  exactly  at  sixteen  minutes  past  four 
o'clock,  and  concluded  at  ten  minutes  past  five,  occu- 
pying in  the  delivery  about  fifty-four  minutes.  The 
time  taken  by  His  Honor  the  Mayor,  in  his  reply, 
was  about  twenty-one  minutes.  While  both  gentle- 
men were  speaking,  a  profound  silence  prevailed ;  but 
as  each  of  the  orators  arose,  and  when  they  took 
their  seats,  marks  of  approbation  and  applause  were 
liberally  bestowed  by  the  assembled  audience. 

After  the  mayor  had  ceased  speaking,  a  short 
pause  ensued  previous  to  the  ceremonies  of  dedica- 
tion, which  had  been  arranged  by  the  Committee. 
These  consisted  of  the  proper  religious  services  and 
singing ;  the  latter  of  which  was  most  admirably  per- 
formed by  the  choir  of  young  ladies  selected  for  the 
purpose,  and  who  occupied  the  lower  gallery  at  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  hall,  where  a  suitable 
staging  had  been  erected  for  their  special  accommo- 
dation. 

Quietness  being  again  restored,  the  ceremonies  of 
dedication  were  commenced.  The  choir  above  men- 
tioned, composed  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
young  ladies,  members  of  the  Girls'  High  and  Nor- 
mal school,  sang  the  following  hymn,  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  CHARLES  BUTLER,  to  the  air  of  the 


CEREMONIES.  79 

"Italian  Hymn,"  with  an  accompaniment  on  a  grand 
piano-forte,  gratuitously  furnished  for  the  occasion  by 
the  Messrs.  Chickering. 

HYMN. 

Come,  thou  Almighty  King ! 
Help  us  thy  name  to  sing, 

Help  us  to  praise  ! 
Father  all  glorious, 
O'er  all  victorious, 
v     Come  and  reign  over  us, 

Ancient  of  Days  ! 

Come,  thou  eternal  Lord  ! 
By  heaven  and  earth  adored, 

Our  prayer  attend ! 
Come  and  thy  children  bless ; 
Give  thy  good  word  success ; 
Make  thine  own  holiness 

On  us  descend ! 


Be  thou  our  comforter; 
Thy  sacred  witness  bear 

In  this  glad  hour. 
Omnipotent  thou  art : 
0,  rule  in  every  heart, 
And  ne'er  from  us  depart, 

Spirit  of  power. 


The  hymn  was,  after  a  due  pause,  succeeded  by 
the  following  Prayer  of  Dedication,  offered  by  the 
Eev.  BARON  STOW,  D.D.,  pastor  of  the  society  worship- 
ping in  the  Kowe  street  Baptist  Church. 


SO  DEDICATION   OF   THE  LIBRARY   BUILDING. 


PRAYER. 

0  GOD,  our  Father ;  our  Helper  in  the  past,  our  Hope 
for  the  future  ;  we  would  in  all  our  ways  acknowledge 
thee,  that  thou  mayst  direct  our  paths.  In  all  things 
we  recognize  and  adore  thy  supremacy ;  and,  ever  as 
we  begin,  and  as  we  finish,  we  would  honor  the  pre- 
rogatives of  the  Infinite  Sovereign  upon  whom  we 
are  always  dependent,  and  to  whom  we  must  render 
our  final  account.  When  the  foundations  of  this 
edifice  were  laid,  we  sought  thy  blessing ;  and,  as 
thou  hast  richly  answered  our  request,  we  now  come 
before  thee  with  a  tribute  of  thanksgiving  and  praise, 
for  the  favor  with  which  thou  hast  crowned  the  enter- 
prise. By  the  good  hand  of  our  God  upon  us,  the 
structure  has  been  completed ;  and,  by  these  public 
services,  we  do  solemnly  and  joyously  consecrate  it 
to  purposes  in  harmony  with  the  great  ends  of  thy 
beneficent  administration. 

0  God,  from  whom  all  holy  desires,  all  good  coun- 
sels, and  all  just  works  do  proceed,  we  recognize  thy 
providence  in  the  commencement,  hi  the  progress, 
and  in  the  consummation  of  this  undertaking,  and, 
with  reverent  homage,  we  present  before  thee  our 
finished  work,  invoking  upon  it  thy  benediction,  and 
imploring  thine  aid,  that  as  we  and  those  who  shall 
come  after  us  may  enjoy  its  benefits,  it  may  be  so 


CEREMONIES.  81 

employed  as  to  subserve  thy  glory  and  the  good  of 
humanity. 

Father  of  mercies,  and  God  of  all  grace,  we,  as  a 
people,  are  indebted  to  thee  for  special  blessings.  We 
thank  thee  for  our  ancestry.  We  are  descended  from 
those  who  feared  thee,  and  kept  thy  precepts.  Puri- 
fied as  gold  in  the  fires  of  affliction,  they  reflected 
thine  image.  Thou  didst  chasten  them,  and  teach 
them  out  of  thy  law.  In  knowledge  of  thy  revealed 
truth,  in  submission  to  thine  authority,  in  spiritual 
culture,  in  practical  virtue,  they  were  in  advance  of 
their  race,  and  the  pioneers  of  a  higher  civilization 
tfyan  the  world  had  seen.  Under  thy  guidance,  and 
by  the  strength  of  an  enduring  faith,  they  wrought 
effectively  for  the  benefit  of  posterity ;  and,  of  their 
legacy  of  soul-freedom,  and  sound  principles,  and  Chris- 
tian institutions,  we  are  the  happy  inheritors.  We 
thank  thee  for  the  light  of  their  example,  for  the 
conservatism  of  their  influence,  for  all  the  good  devel- 
oped from  their  prayers,  and  toils,  and  sacrifices. 
Living  where  they  lived,  and  where  their  ashes  repose, 
the  lines  have  fallen  to  us  in  pleasant  places,  and  we 
have  a  goodly  heritage.  We  are  here  to-day  because 
they  were  here  before  us.  Instructed  by  thy  Word, 
and  illuminated  by  thy  Spirit,  they  appreciated  mind, 
and  gave  it  their  care  in  preference  to  all  material 
interests ;  and,  through  them,  thou  hast  taught  us  to 
make  the  culture  of  imperishable  mind  our  chief  con- 


11 


82  DEDICATION   OF   THE    LIBRARY    BUILDING. 

cern,  and  to  avail  ourselves  of  matter  and  its  laws, 
of  science  and  literature  and  art,  as  auxiliary  to  the 
higher,  spiritual  end. 

We  thank  thee,  Father,  for  all  the  blessings  with 
which  we  as  a  community  are  favored.  We  acknowl- 
edge thy  kind  providence  towards  our  nation  as  a 
family  of  States,  united  by  the  bonds  of  many  and 
great  interests ;  towards  our  commonwealth,  whose 
history  is  rich  in  the  tokens  of  thy  munificence ;  and 
especially  towards  the  city  of  our  habitation,  over 
which  thou  hast  extended  thy  constant  guardianship, 
and  in  whose  well-being,  in  every  department,  we  see 
proofs  of  thy  paternal  goodness.  We  thank  thee  for 
our  system  of  government,  for  the  churches  of  our 
holy  religion,  for  our  free  schools,  for  our  free  press, 
for  our  benevolent  institutions,  for  all  the  means  of 
moral,  intellectual,  and  social  improvement  We  thank 
thee  for  the  many  citizens  whom  thou  hast  raised  up 
in  the  successive  generations,  endowing  them  with 
wealth  and  intelligence  and  humane  affections,  and 
prompting  them  to  consecrate  their  resources  to  ob- 
jects of  public  utility. 

Especially  now  do  we  thank  thee  for  the  generous- 
hearted  who  have  originated  and  liberally  endowed 
the  institution  which  is  here  to  have  its  home,  and 
which,  we  devoutly  trust,  under  thy  protection  and 
by  thy  smile,  shall  be  to  our  city  a  permanent  bless- 
ing. Do  thou,  Father  of  Lights,  superintend  its  inter- 


CEREMONIES.  83 

ests,  and  cause  that  it  shall  be  a  depository  of  only 
the  true  and  the  wise  and  the  good.  Let  it  be  a 
fountain  whose  issues  shall  be  all  healthful,  enlighten- 
ing intellect,  refining  taste,  purifying  morals,  and  con- 
tributing to  the  formation  of  model  character.  Give 
wisdom  to  all  who  may  be  intrusted  with  its  man- 
agement, that  they  may  ever  have  regard  to  their 
accountability  to  thee,  and  in  all  things  fulfil  their 
mission  as  good  and  faithful  servants.  May  all  who 
shall  resort  hither  for  the  means  of  instruction  or 
entertainment,  be  ever  mindful  that  life  is  short,  and 
that  its  trusts  are  momentous;  and  may  it  be  their 
uniform  endeavor  so  to  cultivate  their  higher  natures 
as  shall  best  qualify  themselves  for  the  duties  of  the 
passing  present,  and  the  rewards  of  the  unending 
future. 

Have  this  institution,  we  entreat  thee,  in  thine 
'  own  paternal  keeping,  and  make  it  for  centuries  to 
come  richly  tributary  to  the  advancement  of  truth 
and  purity,  justice  and  mercy,  righteousness  and  sal- 
vation. 

Have  us,  we  beseech  thee,  and  all  our  interests, 
personal  and  relative,  under  thy  guardian  care.  For- 
give our  sins,  replenish  us  with  thy  grace,  make  us 
useful,  and  finally  accept  us  through  Him  who  loved 
us  and  gave  Himself  for  us. 

And  now,  unto  Him  who  is  able  to  do  exceeding 

t 

abundantly  above  all  that  we  ask  or  think,  according 


84  DEDICATION   OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

to  the  power  that  worketh  in  us,  unto  Him  be  glory 
in  the  church,  by  Christ  Jesus,  throughout  all  ages, 
world  without  end.  Amen. 


The  following  anthem  was  then  sung  by  the  choir, 
the  music  from  "II  Pirata"  by  Bellini:  — 

ANTHEM. 

CHORUS. 

Mighty  Jehovah,  accept  our  praises ; 

God,  our  Father,  0,  hear  thy  children; 

Unto  thee  we  offer  praise. 

For  thy  goodness  to  thy  children 

And  thy  undeserved  mercies 

We  will  offer  thee  our  thanks ; 

To  thee  we  offer  grateful  thanks. 

OBLIGATO   AND    CHORUS. 

0,  sing  praises  to  His  holy  name, 
And  rejoice  in  His  mercy. 
Sing  to  Him  with  the  lute  and  harp, 
Call  upon  His  name,  and  rejoice  in  Him 
With  thanksgiving  and  with  gladness. 
0,  sing  praises  with  joy  and  gladness; 
0,  be  joyful  in  the  Lord ; 
Sing  praises  to  Him,  ye  nations, 
Sing,  rejoice,  and  praise  His  name. 

His  Honor  MAYOR  RICE  then,  in  the  name  of  the 
city,  delivered  the  keys  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
the  Public  Library,  handing  them  to  Hon.  Mr.  Everett, 
the  President  of  the  Board:  — 


MAYOE   RICE'S   SPEECH. 


IT  only  remains  for  me,  Mr.  President  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  that  I  shall  perform  the  agreeable  duty, 
by  chance  reserved  to  illuminate  the  closing  hours 
of  my  municipal  labors,  of  delivering  the  keys  of  this 
building  to  you,  in  token  of  its  surrender  to  those  — 
the  chosen  guardians  of  its  future  fortunes  —  who 
have  already  given  to  the  library  the  sanction  of 
their  names,  and  an  invaluable  service. 

In  vain  were  all  that  has  been  done  by  others,  but 
for  the  more  silent,  unostentatious,  and  perhaps  weari- 
some labor,  which  you  and  your  associates  have  per- 
formed —  a  labor  transcending  the  requirements  of 
your  office,  and  engaging  the  noblest  powers  and  the 
warmest  zeal  for  its  success.  The  abounding  liberality 
which  flows  to  the  library  under  the  auspices  of  a 
name  likely  to  be  memorable  in  both  hemispheres, 
and  which  deserves  to  be  immortal  certainly  in  one, 
still  imposes  upon  the  Trustees  a  labor  requiring  both 
leisure  and  culture  in  its  performance. 

If  heretofore  this  labor  has  seemed  {o  be  unrecog- 
nized or  unappreciated,  let  this  elegant  and  costly 


86  DEDICATION    OF   THE   LIBRARY    BUILDING. 

structure, — the  casket  only  of  the  gem  with  whose 
selection  and  custody  you  are  intrusted, — and  the 
enthusiasm  which  attends  its  completion  and  surren- 
der, be  now  received  as  tokens  of  the  public  interest 
in  your  labors  and  pledges  of  its  confidence.  So 
long  as  the  love  of  knowledge  shall  prevail,  so  long 
as  an  enlightened  patriotism  shall  survive,  so  long  as 
aspirations  for  the  highest  welfare  of  man  shall  be 
breathed,  so  long  will  this  institution  find  its  useful- 
ness in  our  community,  and  reflect  upon  each  coming 
age  something  of  the  characteristics  which  you  bestow 
upon  itself.  This  building  is  committed  to  your  charge 
as  the  property  of  the  people ;  its  privileges  are  to 
be  as  free  as  air,  as  universal  as  our  population.  The 
rich  and  the  poor  are  to  be  alike  welcome  at  its 
doors,  the  high  and  the  lowly  born,  the  masses  who 
wield  the  hammers  of  toil,  and  the  unenvied  few  who 
are  reared  in  affluence  and  ease.  Genius  knows  no 
rank,  but  chooses  her  votaries  from  all.  Here  shall 
she  henceforth  spread  her  perpetual  banquet,  and  to 
one  of  her  peerless  sons  I  hasten  to  surrender  her 
beautiful  habitation. 


Hon.  EDWARD  EVERETT,  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  on  receiving  the  keys  delivered  the  follow- 
ing address:  — 


MR.   EVERETT'S  ADDRESS. 


MR.  MAYOR  :  —  In  behalf  of  the  Trustees  of  the  City 
Library,  I  receive  with  extreme  pleasure  the  keys 
which  you  have  placed  in  my  hands.  The  completion 
of  the  noble  building,  which  the  City  Government 
now  confides  to  our  care,  is  an  event  to  which  the 
Trustees  have  been  looking  forward  with  the  greatest 
interest,  and  which  they  now  contemplate  with  the 
highest  satisfaction.  They  deem  themselves  especially 
honored  in  their  connection  with  an  institution,  for 
whose  use  this  stately  and  commodious  edifice  has 
been  erected,  and  which,  they  doubt  not,  is  destined 
to.  be  instrumental  of  the  highest  good  to  the  com- 
munity, and  to  reflect  lasting  credit  upon  the  liber- 
ality, public  and  private,  with  which  it  has  been 
founded  and  endowed. 

The  City  of  Boston,  owing  to  peculiar  circum- 
stances in  its  growth  and  history,  has  been  at  all 
times,  as  I  think,  beyond  most  cities  in  the  world, 
the  object  of  an  affectionate  attachment  on  the  part 
of  its  inhabitants — a  feeling  entitled  to  respect,  and 


88  DEDICATION   OF   THE   LIBRARY  BUILDING. 

productive  of  good,  even  if  it  may  sometimes  seem 
to  strangers  over-partial  in  its  manifestations.  It  is 
not  merely  its  commanding  natural  situation,  the  triple 
hills  on  which  it  is  enthroned,  its  magnificent  bay  and 
harbor,  and  the  group  of  islands  and  islets  that  sparkle 
like  emeralds  on  then*  surface  —  not  merely  this  most 
admirable  Common,  which  opens  before  our  windows, 
delightful  even  at  this  season  of  the  year,  and  afford- 
ing us  in  summer,  in  its  noble  malls  and  shady  walks, 
all  that  the  country  can  boast  of  cool  and  beautiful 
and  salubrious,  transported  to  the  heart  of  the  city; 
"the  poor  man's  pleasure  ground,"  as  it  has  been 
well  called,  though  a  king  might  envy  it ;  —  nor  the 
environs  of  our  city,  of  surpassing  loveliness,  which 
enclose  it  on  every  side  in  kindly  embrace ;  it  is  not 
solely  nor  principally  these  natural  attractions  which 
endear  Boston  to  its  citizens.  Nor  is  it  exclusively 
the  proud  and  grateful  memories  of  the  past — of  the 
high-souled  fathers  and  mothers  of  the  land,  vener- 
able in  their  self-denying  virtues,  majestic  in  the  aus- 
tere simplicity  of  their  manners,  conscientious  in  their 
errors,  who,  with  amazing  sacrifices,  and  hardships 
never  to  be  described,  sought  out  new  homes  in  the 
wilderness,  and  transmitted  to  us  delights  and  bless- 
ings which  it  was  not  given  to  themselves  to  enjoy — 
of  those  who  in  succeeding  generations  deserved  well 
of  their  country  —  the  pioneers  of  the  revolution,  the 
men  of  the  stamp-act  age,  whose  own  words  and  acts 


MR.  EVERETT'S  ADDRESS.  89 

are  stamped  on  the  pages  of  history,  in  characters 
never  to  be  effaced,  —  of  those  who,  when  the  decisive 
hour  came,  stood  forth  in  that  immortal  hall,  the 
champions  of  their  country's  rights,  while  it  scarcely 
yet  deserved  the  name  of  a  country;  it  is  not  exclu- 
sively these  proud  and  grateful  associations,  which 
attach  the  dutiful  Bostonian  to  the  city  of  his  birth 
or  adoption. 

No,  Mr.  Mayor,  it  is  not  exclusively  these,  much 
as  they  contribute  to  strengthen  the  sentiment.  It 
has  its  origin,  in  no  small  degree,  in  the  personal 
relation  in  which  Boston  places  herself  to  her  chil- 
dren ;  in  the  parental  interest  which  she  cherishes  in 
their  welfare,  which  leads  her  to  take  them  by  the 
hand  almost  from  the  cradle,  —  to  train  them  up  in 
the  ascending  series  of  her  excellent  free  schools ; 
watching  over  them  as  a  fond  father  watches  over 
the  objects  of  his  love  and  hope ;  in  a  word,  to  confer 
upon  them  a  first-rate  school  education  at  the  public 
expense.  Often  have  I  attempted,  but  with  very 
partial  success,  both  in  this  country  and  in  Europe,  to 
persuade  inquiring  friends  from  countries  and  places 
where  no  such  well-organized  system  of  public  educa- 
tion prevails,  chat  our  free  schools  do  really  afford  to 
the  entire  population  means  of  elementary  education 
of  which  the  wealthiest  citizen  is  glad  to  avail  himself. 

And  now,  Mr.  Mayor,  the  enlightened  counsels  of 
the  City  Government  are  about  to  give  new  strength 


12 


90  DEDICATION    OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

to  those  ties  of  gratitude  and  affection,  which  bind 
the  hearts  of  the  children  of  Boston  to  their  beloved 
city.  Hitherto  the  system  of  public  education,  excel- 
lent as  it  is,  and  wisely  supported  by  a  princely 
expenditure,  does  but  commence  the  work  of  instruc- 
tion and  carry  it  to  a  certain  point;  well  advanced, 
indeed,  but  far  short  of  the  goal.  It  prepares  our 
young  men  for  college,  for  the  counting-room,  for  the 
office  of  the  engineer,  the  studio  of  the  artist,  the 
shop  of  the  artisan,  the  laboratory  of  the  chemist,  or 
whatever  field  of  employment  they  may  be  destined 
to  enter;  but  there  it  leaves  them,  without  further  pro- 
vision for  the  culture  of  the  mind.  It  disciplines  the 
faculties,  and  forms  a  taste  for  the  acquisition  of 
knowledge,  on  the  part  of  our  young  men  and 
women;  but  it  provides  no  means  for  their  exercise 
and  gratification.  It  gives  them  the  elementary  edu- 
cation requisite  for  their  future  callings,  but  withholds 
all  facilities  of  access  to  those  boundless  stores  of 
recorded  knowledge,  in  every  department,  by  which 
alone  that  elementary  education  can  be  completed 
and  made  effectual  for  the  active  duties  of  life. 

But  to-day  our  honored  city  carries  on  and  per- 
fects her  work.  The  Trustees,  from  their  first  annual 
report  to  the  present  time,  have  never  failed  to  recom- 
mend a  first  class  public  library,  such  as  that,  sir,  for 
whose  accommodation  you  destine  this  noble  building, 
as  the  completion  of  the  great  system  of  public  edu- 


MR.  EVERETT'S  ADDRESS.  91 

cation.  Its  object  is  to  give  to  the  entire  population, 
not  merely  to  the  curious  student,  but  to  the  inquisi- 
tive member  of  either  of  the  professions,  to  the  intel- 
ligent merchant,  mechanic,  machinist,  engineer,  artist, 
or  artisan,  in  short,  to  all  of  every  age  and  of  either 
sex,  who  desire  to  investigate  any  subject,  either  of 
utility  or  taste,  those  advantages  which,  without  such 
an  ample  public  collection,  must  necessarily  be  mo- 
nopolized by  the  proprietors  of  large  private  libraries, 
or  those  who  by  courtesy  have  the  use  of  them ;  nay, 
to  put  within  the  reach  of  the  entire  community 
advantages  of  this  kind,  far  beyond  those  which  can 
be  afforded  by  the  largest  and  best  provided  private 
libraries. 

The  Trustees  are  anxious  that  the  institution,  wjiose 
prosperity  they  have  so  much  at  heart,  should  con- 
tinue to  be  viewed  in  this  light;  as  one  more  added 
to  the  school-houses  of  the  city,  at  which  Boston 
boys  and  girls,  when  they  have  outgrown  the  other 
schools,  will  come  to  carry  on  the  education  which 
has  been  there  commenced ;  where  Boston  men  and 
women,  "  children  of  a  larger  growth,"  may  come  to 
acquire  that  additional  knowledge  which  is  requisite 
for  the  most  successful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the 
various  callings  of  society,  —  which  opens,  in  its  pur- 
suit, the  purest  sources  of  happiness,  and  which,  with- 
out reference  to  utility,  contributes  so  materially  to 
the  grace  and  ornament  of  life. 


92  DEDICATION    OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

I  am  aware  that  there  is  still  floating  about  in 
the  community  a  vague  prejudice  against  what  is 
called  book-learning.  One  sometimes  hears  doubts 
expressed  of  the  utility  of  public  libraries;  opinions 
that  they  are  rather  ornamental  than  necessary  or 
useful;  and  the  fact  that  our  time-honored  city,  never 
indifferent  to  the  mental  improvement  of  her  children, 
has  subsisted  more  than  two  centuries  without  one, 
is  a  sufficient  proof  that  until  within  a  very  few 
years,  their  importance  has  not  been  practically  felt. 
There  is,  perhaps,  even  now  a  disposition  to  claim 
some  superiority  for  what  is  called  practical  knowl- 
edge—  knowledge  gained  by  observation  and  experi- 
ence, (which  most  certainly  the  Trustees  would  not 
disparage,)  and  a  kind  of  satisfaction  felt  in  holding 
up  the  example  of  self-taught  men,  in  supposed  con- 
tradistinction from  those  who  have  got  their  knowl- 
edge from  books ;  and  no  name,  perhaps,  is  so 
frequently  mentioned  in  this  connection  as  that  of 
Franklin,  who,  because  he  had  scarce  any  school 
education,  and  never  went  to  college,  has  been  hastily 
set  down  as  a  brilliant  example  to  show  the  inutility 
of  book-learning.  It  has  been  quoted  to  me  in  this 
way,  and  to  show  that  libraries  are  of  no  use,  within 
three  days. 

Now,  Mr.  Mayor,  I  need  not  tell  you  that  there 
never-  was  a  greater  mistake  in  point  of  fact.  A 
thirst  for  books,  which  he  spared  no  pains  to  allay, 


ME.  EVERETT'S  ADDRESS.  93 

is  the  first  marked  trait  disclosed  in  the  character 
of  Franklin;  his  success  throughout  the  early  period 
of  his  life  can  be  directly  traced  to  the  use  he  made 
of  them ;  and  his  very  first  important  movement  for 
the  benefit  of  his  fellow-men,  was  to  found  a  public 
library,  which  still  flourishes ;  —  one  of  the  most  con- 
siderable in  the  country.  Franklin  not  a  book-man! 
whoever  labors  under  that  delusion,  shows  that  some- 
body else  is  not  much  of  a  book-man,  at  least  so  far 
as  concerns  the  biography  of  our  illustrious  townsman. 
We  happen  to  have  a  little  information  on  that  sub- 
ject in  a  book  written  by  Franklin  himself.  He  there 
gives  a  very  different  account  of  himself,  and  I  would 
ask  any  one  who  entertains  the  idea  to  which  I  am 
alluding,  at  what  period  of  Franklin's  career  he  sup- 
poses this  taste  for  books  began  to  be  manifested  by 
him  ;  how  soon  he  ceased  to  be  a  self-formed  man  ? 
Perhaps  after  he  had  struggled  through  the  years  of 
his  youthful  poverty, —  escaped  to  Philadelphia, —  set 
up  in  business  as  a  printer,  and  began  to  have  a  little 
money  in  his  pocket.  I  need  not  tell  you,  sir,  that 
it  was  earlier  than  that.  Was  it,  then,  while  he  was 
the  clever  apprentice  to  his  brother,  the  editor  of  a 
journal,  and  wrote  articles  for  its  columns  in  a  dis- 
guised hand,  and  tucked  them  under  the  office  door, 
enjoying  the  exquisite  delight  of  being  ordered  to 
set  up  his  own  anonymous  articles  ?  Was  it,  then,  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  or  sixteen,  that  this  fondness  for 


94  DEDICATION   OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

reading,  under  the  stimulus  of  boyish  authorship,  dis- 
closed itself?  Earlier  than  that.  Well,  then,  at  the 
grammar  school  and  Master  Brownwell's  writing  school, 
which  he  attended  from  eight  to  ten,  (for  there  are 
boys  who  show  a  fondness  for  reading  even  at  that 
tender  age;)  was  little  Benjamin's  taste  for  books 
developed  while  yet  at  school  ?  Earlier  than  that. 
Hear  his  own  words,  which  you  will  permit  me  to 
read  from  that  exquisite  piece  of  autobiography  to 
which  I  have  already  alluded:  "From  my  infancy  I 
was  passionately  fond  of  reading,  and  all  the  money 
that  came  into  my  hands  was  laid  out  in  purchasing 
books.  I  was  very  fond  of  voyages.  My  first  acqui- 
sition was  Bunyan's  works,  in  separate  little  volumes. 
I  afterwards  sold  them  to  enable  me  to  buy  E.  Bur- 
ton's Historical  Collections.  They  were  small  chap- 
man's books  and  cheap,  forty  volumes  in  all.  My 
father's  little  library  consisted  chiefly  of  books  in 
polemic  divinity,  most  of  which  I  read.  I  have  often 
regretted,  [and  this  is  a  sentence  that  might  be  in- 
scribed on  the  lofty  cornice  of  this  noble  hall,]  that 
at  a  time  when  I  had  such  a  thirst  for  knowledge, 
more  proper  books  had  not  fallen  in  my  way.  .  .  . 
There  was  among  them  Plutarch's  Lives,  which  I  read 
abundantly,  and  I  still  think  that  time  spent  to  great 
advantage.  There  was  also  a  book  of  Defoe's,  called 
an  '  Essay  on  Projects,'  and  another  of  Dr.  Mather's, 
called  an  ( Essay  to  Do  Good,'  which"  did  what,  sir? 


MR.  EVERETT'S  ADDRESS.      >  95 

—  for  I  am  now  going  to  give  you  in  Frank- 
lin's own  words  (they  carry  with  them  the  justifi- 
cation of  every  dollar  expended  in  raising  these 
walls)  the  original  secret  of  his  illustrious  career  — 
what  was  the  effect  produced  by  reading  these  two 
little  books  of  Defoe  and  Cotton  Mather?  "They 
perhaps  gave  me  a  turn  of  thinking,  which  had 
an  influence  on  some  of  the  principal  future  events 
of  my  life." 

Yes,  sir,  in  the  reading  of  those  books  was  the 
acorn,  that  sprouted  into  that  magnificent  oak;  there 
was  the  fountain-drop  which  a  fairy  might  sip  from 
a  buttercup,  from  which  has  flowed  the  Missouri  and 
the  Mississippi,  —  the  broad,  deep  river  of  Franklin's 
fame,  winding  its  way  through  the  lapse  of  ages,  and 
destined  to  flow  on,  till  it  shall  be  ingulfed  in  the 
ocean  of  eternity.  From  his  "infancy,''  sir,  "passion- 
ately fond  of  reading,"  nay,  with  the  appetite  of  a 
vulture,  with  the  digestion  of  an  ostrich,  attacking 
the  great  folios  of  polemic  divinity  in  his  father's 
library.  Not  a  dull  boy,  either,  sir;  not  a  precocious 
little  book-worm;  fond  of  play;  doesn't  dislike  a 
little  mischief;  sometimes,  as  he  tells  us,  "led  the 
other  boys  into  scrapes;"  but  in  his  intervals  of  play, 
in  his  leisure  moments,  up  in  the  lonely  garret,  when 
the  rest  of  the  family  were  asleep,  holding  converse 
in  his  childhood  with  the  grave  old  non-conformists, 
Howe,  and  Owen,  and  Baxter, — communing  with  the 


96  DEDICATION   OF   THE  LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

austerest  lords   of  thought;    the    demigods   of  puri- 

tanism,  — 

Non  sine  diis  animosus  infans. 

Franklin  not  a  book-man?  Why,  he  goes  on  to 
tell  us  that  it  was  "  this  bookish  inclination  which  at 
length  determined  his  father  to  make  him  a  printer/' 
against  his  own  inclination,  which  was  for  the  sea; 
and  when  he  had  thus  by  constraint  become  a  printer, 
his  great  consolation  was,  as  he  says,  that  "  I  now  had 
access  to  better  books.  An  acquaintance  with  the 
apprentices  of  booksellers  enabled  me  sometimes  to 
borrow  a  small  one,  which  I  was  careful  to  return 
soon  and  clean.  Often  I  sat  up  in  my  chamber  read- 
ing the  greatest  part  of  the  night,  when  the  book 
was  borrowed  in  the  evening  and  to  be  returned  in 
the  morning,  lest  it  should  be  found  missing." 

Then  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Matthew 
Adams,  an  ingenious,  sensible  man,  u  who  had  a  pretty 
collection  of  books."  He  frequented  the  printing 
office,  took  notice  of  the  bright  little  apprentice,  and 
"very  kindly  proposed  to  lend  me  such  books  as  I 
chose  to  read."  Having  taken  to  a  vegetable  diet 
at  the  age  of  sixteen,  he  persuaded  his  brother  to 
allow  him  in  cash  half  the  price  of  his  board,  lived 
upon  potatoes  and  hasty  pudding,  soon  found  that  he 
could  save  half  even  of  that  little  allowance,  (which 
could  not  have  exceeded  two-and-sixpence  a  week, 
lawful  money,)  and  this  poor  little  economy  "  was  an 


MR.  EVERETT'S  ADDRESS.  97 

additional  fund  for  buying  books."  What  would  the 
poor,  underfed  boy,  who  was  glad  to  buy  books  on  the 
savings  of  his  potato  diet,  have  said  could  he  have 
had  free  access  to  a  hall  like  this,  stored  as  it  soon 
will  be  with  its  priceless  treasures?  Further,  sir, 
while  working  as  a  journeyman  in  England,  he  says, 
"  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  one  William  Wilcox,  a 
bookseller,  whose  shop  was  next  door.  He  had  an 
immense  collection  of  second-hand  books;"  —  (some- 
what, I  suppose,  like  our  friend  Burnham,  in  Corn- 
hill;) —  ".circulating  libraries  were  not  then  in  use, 
but  we  agreed  that  on  certain  reasonable  terms,  which 
I  have  now  forgotten,  I  might  take,  read  and  return 
any  of  his  works.  This  I  esteemed  a  great  advantage, 
and  I  made  as  much  use  of  it  as  I  could." 

Finally,  sir,  as  I  have  already  said,  Franklin's  first 
important  movement  for  the  good  of  his  fellow-men 
was  the  foundation  of  the  public  library  in  Philadel- 
phia. At  his  instance,  the  members  of  a  little  club 
to  which  he  belonged,  tradesmen  and  mechanics  of 
narrow  means,  threw  into  common  stock  the  few 
books  which  belonged  to  them.  A  subscription  was 
then  obtained  from  fifty  young  men,  principally 
tradesmen,  of  two  pounds  each,  and  ten  shillings  per 
annum,  and  with  this  little  fund  they  began.  K  The 
books  were  imported,  the  library  was  opened  one  day 
in  the  week  for  lending  them  to  the  subscribers,  on 
their  promissory  notes  to  pay  double  the  value  if  not 


13 


98  DEDICATION    OF   THE    LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

duly  returned."  "  This  was  the  mother,"  says  Frank- 
lin, "of  all  the  North  American  subscription  libraries, 
now  so  numerous.  It  has  become  a  great  thing  itself, 
and  continually  goes  on  increasing.  These  libraries 
have  improved  the  general  conversation  of  the  Ameri- 
cans, made  the  common  tradesmen  and  farmers  as 
intelligent  as  most  gentlemen  from  other  countries, 
and,  perhaps,  have  contributed  in  some  degree  to  the 
stand  so  generally  made  throughout  the  colonies  in 
defence  of  their  privileges." 

Those  are  the  words  of  Franklin,  Mr.  Mayor,  which 
I  read  from  his  own  book.  Our  excellent  friend,  the 
President  of  the  Commissioners,  has  justly  felicitated 
himself  on  having  been  the  first  person  publicly  to 
raise  his  voice  in  this  noble  hall.  He  must  be  a 
happier  man  than  I  who  can  speak  an  earlier  or 
an  abler  word  than  his  on  any  occasion ;  but  I  claim 
the  credit  of  having  read  from  the  first  book  opened 
in  this  hall ;  and  what  is  more,  sir,  I  mean  to  have 
the  satisfaction  of  presenting  the  first  volume  given 
to  the  library  since  it  came  into  the  care  of  the  Trus- 
tees. In  your  presence,  Mr.  Mayor,  and  that  of  this 
vast  assembly,  on  this  first  of  January,  1858,  I  offer 
this  copy  of  Franklin's  Autobiography,  in  Sparks's 
edition,  as  a  new  year's  gift  to  the  Boston  Public 
Library.  Nay,  sir,  I  am  going  to  do  more,  and  make 
the  first,  and  perhaps  the  last,  motion  ever  made  in 
this  hall;  and  that  is,  that  every  person  present,  of 


MR.  EVERETT'S  ADDRESS.  99 

his  own  accord  if  of  age, — with  the  consent  of  parent 
or  guardian  if  a  minor,  —  man,  woman,  boy,  or  girl, 
be  requested,  on  going  home,  to  select  one  good  book, 
and,  in  memory  of  the  poor  boy  who  half  fed  himself 
to  gratify  his  taste  for  reading,  present  it  as  a  new 
year's  gift  to  the  Boston  Public  Library.  I  make 
you  that  motion,  Mr.  Mayor,  and  I  call  upon  all 
present  to  give  me  their  voices;  especially  I  ask  the 
cooperation  of  the  fairer  and  the  better  part  of  cre- 
ation. If  nowhere  else,  woman's  rights  shall  be 
respected  in  this  hall,  while  I  have  anything  to  do 
with  it.  I  pray  you,  Mr.  Mayor,  put  the  question, 
and  then  I'll  finish  my  speech. 

His  Honor  the  Mayor  then  rose  and  stated  the 
question,  which  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Winthrop.  The 
Mayor  particularly  called  on  the  ladies  to  vote,  and 
a  unanimous  and  emphatic  aye  resounded  through 
the  vast  hall.  The  negative  was  then  called,  and  no 
response  made.  His  Honor,  amidst  great  cheering, 
pronounced  it  a  unanimous  vote. 

Mr.  Everett  resumed  — 

No,  sir,  if  there  is  one  lesson  more  than  another 
directly  deducible  from  the  life  of  Franklin,  it  is  the 
close  connection  of  a  thoroughly  practical  and  useful 
life  and  career  with  books,  libraries  and  reading.  If 
there  is  a  thing  on  earth  which  would  have  gladdened 


100  DEDICATION   OF   THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

his  heart,  could  he  have  anticipated  it,  it  would  be 
the  knowledge  that  his  native  city,  in  two  genera- 
tions after  his  death,  would  found  a  library  like  this, 
to  give  to  the  rising  generation,  and  to  the  lovers 
of  knowledge  of  every  age,  that  access  to  books  of 
which  he  so  much  felt  the  want.  And  could  it  be 
granted  to  him,  even  now,  to  return  to  his  native 
city,  which  dwelt  in  his  affections  to  the  close  of  his 
life,  his  first  visit  would  be  to  the  centre  of  the 
ancient  burial  ground,  where,  in  after  life,  he  duti- 
fully placed  a  marble  slab  on  the  graves  of  his 
parents;  his  second  visit  would  be  to  the  spot  in 
Milk  street  where  he  was  born ;  his  third  to  the 
corner  of  Union  street  and  Hanover  street,  where  he 
passed  his  childhood,  in  a  house  still  standing;  his 
fourth  visit  would  be  to  the  site  of  the  free  grammar 
school-house,  where,  as  he  says  in  his  will,  he  received 
"  his  first  instruction  in  literature,",  and  which  is  now 
adorned  with  the  statue  which  a  grateful  posterity 
has  dedicated  to  his  memory ;  and  his  last  and  longest 
would  be  to  this  noble  hall,  where  you  are  making 
provision  for  an  ample  supply  of  that  reading  of 
which  "from  his  infancy  he  was  passionately  fond." 
The  Trustees  have  done  what  they  could  to  connect 
some  reference  to  Franklin  with  an  institution  which 
would  have  been  the  object  of  his  warmest  affections, 
by  providing  that  every  Franklin  medal  boy  shall  be 
entitled  to  its  privileges;  and  inasmuch  as  the  accu- 


MB.  EVERETT'S  ADDRESS.  101 

mulating  fund  which  he  bequeathed  to  the  city,  and 
which  now  exceeds  seventy  thousand  dollars,  has 
proved  almost  wholly  unavailing  for  the  primary  ob- 
ject of  the  bequest,  it  deserves  consideration  whether, 
when  it  has  reached  a  sufficient  magnitude,  as  it  will 
before  the  end  of  this  century,  the  interest  of  the 
fund,  if  it  can  be  legally  done,  might  not  advan- 
tageously be  appropriated,  as  a  permanent  endowment 
for  the  support  of  the  library. 

I  have  not  proposed  at  this  time,  sir,  on  the  part 
of  the  Trustees,  to  make  a  formal  speech;  I  have 
preferred  to  let  Benjamin  Franklin  speak  for  us. 
This  day  belongs  of  right  to  the  Commissioners  for 
building  the  library,  ably  represented  as  they  are  by 
our  distinguished  friend  their  President,  who  has  done 
such  ample  justice  to  the  subject;  and  to  you,  Mr. 
Mayor,  as  the  organ  of  the  City  Government,  whom 
I  cannot  but  congratulate  on  closing  your  official 
career  —  in  all  respects  so  honorable  to  yourself  and 
so  acceptable  to  your  fellow-citizens  —  by  an  act,  I 
am  sure,  most  grateful  to  your  own  feelings  and  most 
auspicious  of  the  public  good.  It  is  not  yet  the 
time  for  the  Trustees  to  speak.  A  more  fitting 
opportunity  may  hereafter  present  itself,  when  the 
books  shall  be  placed  on  the  shelves,  the  catalogue 
printed,  and  the  library  opened  for  public  use.  Occa- 
sion may  then,  perhaps,  with  propriety  be  taken,  to 
illustrate  the  importance  and  utility  of  such  an  insti- 


102  DEDICATION    OF   THE   LIBRARY    BUILDING. 

tution;  to  do  justice  to  the  liberality  on  the  part  of 
the  City  Government  and  the  individual  benefactors 
by  which  it  has  been  founded,  endowed  and  sus- 
tained ;  and  especially  to  the  generosity  of  our 
greatest  benefactor  and  esteemed  fellow-countryman, 
Mr.  Bates,  whose  letters  announcing  his  first  munifi- 
cent donation  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  alluding  to 
his  own  early  want  of  access  to  books,  assign  that  as 
the  moving  cause  which  prompted  his  liberality.  It 
will  be  the  pleasing  duty  of  those  who  may  then  be 
intrusted  with  the  administration  of  the  library,  to 
pay  a  fitting  tribute  to  so  much  public  and  private 
bounty. 

In  the  mean  time,  sir,  we  must  throw  ourselves 
on  the  patience  and  considerateness  of  the  City  Coun- 
cil and  the  community.  Not  much  short  of  sixty 
thousand  volumes  are  to  be  brought  together  from 
four  different  places  of  temporary  deposit,  and  as- 
signed to  their  final  resting-places  in  this  hall,  and 
the  circulating  library  below.  Here  they  are  to  be 
arranged  on  the  shelves,  the  cards  and  slips  which 
pertain  to  them,  far  more  numerous  than  the  volumes 
themselves  —  reduced  to  alphabetical  order ;  a  sepa- 
rate catalogue  of  each  alcove  prepared;  and  a  com- 
prehensive catalogue  of  the  whole  collection,  without 
which  it  will  be  little  better  than  an  unmanageable 
mass,  prepared  and  printed.  Every  thing  which  could 
be  done  beforehand,  has  been  anticipated ;  but  much 


MR.  EVERETT'S  ADDRESS.  103 

of  the  work  was  of  necessity  reserved  till  the  books 
should  be  placed  on  the  shelves.  In  the  interval,  and 
while  this  labor  is  going  on,  the  library  in  Mason 
street  will  be  left  in  possession  of  the  books  most 
in  request  for  daily  circulation,  and  will  be  closed  at 
last  only  when  it  becomes  absolutely  necessary  that 
they  also  should  be  removed  to  the  new  building. 

But  it  is  time  for  me  to  conclude.  The  shades  of 
evening  are  falling  around  us;  those  cressets  which 
lend  us  their  mild  and  tasteful  illumination,  will  soon 
be  extinguished ;  and  the  first  day  of  the  new  year, 
rich  in  the  happy  prospects  we  now  inaugurate,  will 
come  to  a  close.  May  the  blessing  of  Heaven  give 
effect  to  its  largest  anticipations !  A  few  more  days, 
—  a  few  more  years,  —  will  follow  their  appointed 
round,  and  we,  who  now  exchange  our  congratula- 
tions on  this  magnificent  new  year's  gift  of  our  City 
Fathers,  will  have  passed  from  the  scene;  but  firm 
in  the  faith  that  the  growth  of  knowledge  is  the 
growth  of  sound  principles  and  pure  morals,  let  us 
not  doubt,  that,  by  the  liberality  of  the  City  Govern- 
ment and  of  our  generous  benefactors  at  home  and 
abroad,  a  light  will  be  kindled  and  go  forth  from 
these  walls,  now  dedicated  to  the  use  of  the  FREE 
BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY,  which  will  guide  our  children 
and  our  children's  children  in  the  path  of  intelligence 
and  virtue  till  the  sun  himself  shall  fall  from  the 
heavens. 


104  DEDICATION   OF  THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 


Mr.  Everett  concluded  his  address  at  forty-five  min- 
utes past  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  occupying  about 
forty-six  minutes  in  speaking.  The  audience  then 
joined  the  choir  in  singing  the  following  hymn  to 
the  tune  of  « Old  Hundred." 

HYMN. 

From  all  that  dwell  below  the  skies 
Let  the  Creator's  praise  arise; 
Let  the  Redeemer's  name  be  sung, 
Through  every  land,  by  every  tongue. 

Eternal  are  thy  mercies,  Lord; 

Eternal  truth  attends  thy  word; 

Thy  praise  shall  sound  from  shore  to  shore, 

Till  suns  shall  rise  and  set  no  more. 

The  exercises  of  the  day  were  then  closed  by 
Eev.  ARTHUR  B.  FULLER,  pastor  of  the  New  North 
Church,  who  pronounced  the  following 

BENEDICTION. 

And  now  may  the  blessing  of  God,  our  Heavenly 
Father,  rest  upon  this  assembly.  May  the  love  of 
our  Redeemer,  Jesus  Christ,  abide  with  us ;  and  when 
we  and  those  by  whose  beneficence  and  labors  this 
building  has  been  reared ;  when  the  countless  throng 
who  shall  gather  instruction  from  the  volumes  herein 


CEREMONIES.  105 

to  be  placed  shall  all  have  laid  aside  this  mortal 
body ;  when  this  goodly  edifice  itself,  with  all  transi- 
tory things,  shall  have  passed  away ;  then,  when  "  the 
dead  are  raised  and  the  books  of  God  opened,"  may 
we,  and  all  interested  in  this  occasion,  find  our  "  names 
written  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life;"  may  we  enter 
an  edifice  fairer  than  this,  even  that  "  building  of  God, 
that  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens." 


At  precisely  ten  minutes  before  seven  o'clock  in 
the  evening,  the  proceedings  at  the  dedication  of  the 
library  building  terminated.  Never  had  ceremonies 
of  a  similar  character  in  Boston  equalled  these  in 
interest,  the  assemblage  of  persons  present  preserving 
perfect  decorum  and  stillness  throughout  the  whole 
of  the  performances,  and  receiving  the  eloquent 
addresses  of  the  occasion  in  a  spirit  that  indicated 
warm  sympathy  and  admiration.  Every  thing  was 
arranged  in  the  most  acceptable  manner,  and  was 
carried  out  with  the  greatest  promptness  and  pre- 
cision, much  to  the  credit  of  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements  and  the  marshals. 

After  the  exercises  of  dedication  were  over,  the 
building  was  inspected  by  the  company,  all  the  rooms 
and  halls  being  brilliantly  illuminated  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  the  doors  being  thrown  open  to  the  public. 


14 


106  DEDICATION   OF  THE   LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

During  the  evening  a  sumptuous  collation  was 
given,  in  one  of  the  halls,  to  the  choir  of  young 
ladies,  by  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  at  which 
short  speeches  were  made  by  His  Honor  the  Mayor 
and  several  other  gentlemen. 

At  a  later  hour  of  the  evening,  the  Commissioners 
on  the  erection  of  the  library  building,  the  Trustees 
of  the  Library,  the  City  Government,  and  some  other 
invited  guests  were  entertained  by  Mayor  Rice,  at 
his  residence,  No.  34  Union  Park. 

For  several  days  after  the  dedication  of  the  build- 
ing the  halls  were  lighted  up  in  the  evening,  and 
were  visited  by  the  citizens,  who  expressed  generally 
great  satisfaction  at  the  successful  termination  of  the 
labors  of  the  Commissioners. 

On  the  following  evening  a  social  reunion  of  the 
Committee  of  Arrangements,  the  marshals  of  the  day, 
and  other  persons  who  had  taken  special  interest  in 
the  ceremonies  of  dedication,  was  held  at  the  Parker 
House.  Alderman  Frost  presided,  with  his  usual 
ability,  on  the  occasion.  After  the  repast  was  con- 
cluded, speeches  were  made  by  Alderman  Frost,  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  Mayor  Rice, 
Alderman  Bonney  and  Mr.  Pond,  of  the  Commis- 
sioners, Dr.  Shurtleff,  of  the  Trustees,  Capt.  Bradlee, 
the  Chief  Marshal,  Capt.  Rogers,  of  the  escort,  Mr. 
Stevens,  President  of  the  Common  Council,  Mr.  Healy, 
the  City  Solicitor,  and  other  gentlemen.  Before  sepa- 


CEREMONIES.  107 

ration  the  marshals  took  measures  to  preserve,  within 
the  archives  of  the  library,  a  suitable  memorial  of  the 
occasion,  in  response  to  the  motion  made  by  Mr. 
Everett,  in  his  address. 

Many  books  were  received  at  the  library  as  dona- 
tions, in  consequence  of  the  motion  offered  by  Mr. 
Everett  and  put  to  vote  by  the  Mayor.  Among 
these  was  a  valuable  work  presented  by  the  marshals, 
who  each  subscribed  five  dollars  for  the  purpose. 
Scarcely  a  day  has  passed  since  the  dedication  that 
volumes  have  not  been  received.  These  will  be  pre- 
served in  the  archives  of  the  library  as  memorials  of 
this  pleasant  event. 


FINAL    PROCEEDINGS. 


FINAL   PROCEEDINGS. 


At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  held 
at  City  Hall  on  Saturday,  the  second  day  of  January, 
A.D.  1858,  the  following  resolutions  of  thanks,  offered 
by  Alderman  J.  M.  Wightman,  were  unanimously 
passed,  and  subsequently  approved  by  His  Honor, 
Mayor  Rice. 

Resolved, — That  the  thanks  of  this  Board,  in  behalf 
of  the  City  Council,  be  presented  to  J.  Putnam  Brad- 
lee,  Esq.,  his  aids  and  assistants,  for  the  prompt, 
efficient,  and  courteous  manner  in  which  all  their 
duties  were  performed,  on  the  occasion  of  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  public  library  building,  on  the  first 
instant. 

Resolved, — That  the  thanks  of  this  Board,  in  behalf 
of  the  City  Council,  be  presented  to  Captain  Charles 
0.  Rogers,  the  officers  and  members  of  the  Boston 
Light  Infantry,  for  their  complimentary  and  gratifying 
escort  to  the  City  Government  and  their  guests,  on 
the  first  instant. 


112  DEDICATION   OF   THE  LIBRARY   BUILDING. 

Resolved, — That  the  thanks  of  this  Board,  in  behalf 
of  the  City  Council,  be  presented  to  the  Rev.  Baron 
Stow,  D.D.,  and  to  the  Rev.  Arthur  B.  Fuller,  who  so 
ably  and  acceptably  officiated  on  the  occasion ;  —  and 
to  Charles  Butler,  Esq.,  and  the  pupils  of  the  Girls' 
High  and  Normal  School,  for  their  valuable  aid  in 
the  ceremonies  of  the  dedication  of  the  public  library 
building. 

The  following  order,  offered  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Common  Council,  was  unanimously  passed  at  the 
same  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  and  ap- 
proved by  His  Honor  the  Mayor. 

Ordered, —  That  the  Committee  of  Arrangements 
for  the  Dedication  of  the  Public  Library  Building  be, 
and  they  are  hereby,  authorized  and  requested  to 
cause  to  be  printed,  for  the  use  of  the  City  Council, 
the  addresses  delivered  by  the  Hon.  Robert  C.  Win- 
throp,  the  Hon.  Edward  Everett,  and  His  Honor  the 
Mayor,  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1858,  together 
with  an  account  of  the  proceedings  upon  that  occasion. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements  held  a  meeting 
on  the  fifth  day  of  January,  A.D.  1858.  The  chair- 
man read  the  order  passed  by  the  City  Council 
requesting  the  committee  to  publish  an  account  of 
the  proceedings  at  the  dedication;  whereupon  it  was 


FINAL   PROCEEDINGS.  113 

Ordered,  —  That  the  order  of  the  City  Council  be 
referred  to  a  sub-committee,  consisting  of  Messrs. 
Oliver  Frost,  Joseph  A.  Pond  and  William  Parkman, 
with  full  powers  to  publish  the  several  addresses  and 
an  account  of  the  proceedings  at  the  dedication  of  the 
Public  Library  Building,  with  such  other  particulars 
connected  with  the  institution  as  they  may  deem 
expedient. 

Other  orders  relating  to  the  collection  of  the  neces- 
sary materials  were  also  adopted  at  the  same  meeting. 

The  sub-committee  immediately  assembled  and, 
after  an  interchange  of  opinions  upon  the  nature  and 
extent  of  the  duty  assigned  to  them,  Voted,  that  the 
papers  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Pond,  and  that 
he  be  requested  to  prepare  and  publish  an  account 
of  the  dedication,  together  with  a  history  and  descrip- 
tion of  the  building,  in  accordance  with  the  views  of 
the  sub-committee,  with  authority  to  obtain  such  assist- 
ance as  might  be  desirable  in  the  performance  of  the 
duty. 


15 


APPENDIX 


APPENDIX. 


PACTS  RELATING  TO  THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A  PUBLIC 
LIBEARY  IN  BOSTON,  AND  THE  ERECTION  OP  A  BUILDING 
POR  THE  SAME. 

A  PUBLIC  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Boston  was  held  at 
the  Masonic  Temple,  in  Tremont  street,  on  the  evening  of 
the  fifth  of  May,  1841,  to  consider  the  expediency  of  estab- 
lishing a  public  literary  and  scientific  institution  and  a  sys- 
tem of  international  exchanges,  as  recommended  by  Mons. 
ALEXANDRE  VATTEMARE,  of  Paris.  His  Honor,  JONATHAN 
CHAPMAN,  the  mayor,  presided  and  introduced  to  the  audi- 
ence the  author  of  the  proposed  plan,  who  proceeded  to 
unfold  his  project,  which  contemplated  a  union  of  the  literary 
and  scientific  societies  of  the  city,  with  their  various  and 
scattered  libraries,  into  a  grand,  central  institution,  with  a 
public  library,  a  gallery  of  art,  etc. 

M.  Yattemare  also  proposed  the  erection  of  a  building  by 
the  citizens,  or  the  government  of  the  city,  which  should  con- 
tain rooms  for  the  united  libraries  and  collections  of  the 
various  societies.  The  building  being  thus  the  property  of 
the  people,  in  consideration  of  the  amount  paid  for  its 
erection,  the  whole  people  were  forever  to  have  free  access 
to  all  that  it  might  contain,  with  only  such  regulations  as 
the  safety  and  preservation  of  the  property  might  demand. 

After  a  resolution  of  thanks  to  M.  Vattemare,  and  a 
pledge  of  cordial  cooperation,  the  subject  was  referred  to  a 


118  APPENDIX. 

committee,  consisting  of  Walter  Channing,  M.  D.,  Rev.  Ezra 
S.  Gannett,  Eev.  George  W.  Blagden,  and  Charles  Francis 
Adams,  Eso,.,  who,  at  a  subsequent  meeting,  reported  in  favor 
of  the  project.  They  submitted  detailed  plans  and  estimates 
of  the  cost  of  a  building,  with  ample  accommodations  for  a 
large  public  library,  paintings,  statuary,  etc.  The  committee 
urged  the  subject  with  the  hope  that  soon  such  an  institution 
might  "  arise  amongst  us,  a  monument  of  the  public  interest 
in  good  learning,  and  a  noble  means  of  gratifying  that  in- 
terest." They  stated,  however,  that,  "  in  looking  around  on 
the  state  of  the  country,  and  especially  on  the  depressed 
condition  of  the  industry  of  our  own  community,  the  com- 
mittee have  serious  doubts  about  recommending  a  plan  for 
present  action,  which  must  involve  great  expenditure  of 
money." 

Nothing  further  was  done  in  the  matter  in  six  years. 
In  the  mean  time,  a  collection  of  valuable  books,  number- 
ing about  fifty  volumes,  was  received  from  M.  Vattemare. 
The  fact  was  communicated  to  the  City  Council  by  his . 
Honor,  MARTIN  BRIMMER,  the  mayor,  in  a  message,  on  the 
twenty-eighth  day  of  November,  1843.  The  books  were 
presented,  through  the  intermediation  of  M.  Vattemare,  by 
the  Municipal  Council  of  the  City  of  Paris,  in  exchange  for 
works  which  had  been  transmitted  to  that  distinguished 
body.  They  were  deposited  in  the  Mayor's  office,  in  the 
City  Hall. 

A  further  donation  from  the  same  city  arrived  on  the 
second  of  September,  1847.  These  were  rare  and  useful 
works  relating  to  the  internal  police  of  France,  statistics 
upon  subjects  of  general  and  local  interest,  and  historical 
works,  illustrated  by  engravings,  making  a  collection  of 
ninety-six  volumes. 

His  Honor,  JOSIAH  QDTNCY,  Jr.,  the  mayor,  Aldermen 
THOMAS  WETMORE  and  WILLIAM  PARKER,  and  Councilmen 
RICHARD  B.  CARTER,  GIDEON  F.  THAYER  and  WILLIAM  EATON, 


HISTORICAL   FACTS.  119 

were  appointed  "  a  committee  to  report  what  acknowl- 
edgment and  return  should  be  made  to  the  City  of  Paris, 
and  to  furnish  a  suitable  place  within  the  City  Hall  for  the 
safe  keeping  of  these  volumes."  Upon  their  recommenda- 
tion, the  Mayor  was  authorized  to  make  a  suitable  acknowl- 
edgment, and  to  transmit  a  number  of  volumes  to  the 
authorities  of  Paris.  It  was  then 

Ordered,  —  That  the  room  in  the  third  story  and  southeast  corner 
of  the  City  Hall,  be  appropriated  as  the  place  of  deposit,  for  the  dona- 
tions of  the  City  of  Paris  and  any  other  books  of  a  similar  nature  that 
may  belong  to  the  city. 

* 

The  subject  of  a  "Free  City  Library"  was  engaging  the 
attention  of  many  of  our  influential  and  literary  citizens 
before  the  arrival  of  these  donations,  which,  it  was  hoped 
and  believed,  would  form  a  nucleus,  around  which  a  new, 
popular  and  useful  institution  would  speedily  a'rise,  and  open 
its  doors  to  the  public. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  October,  in  the  same  year,  the 
Mayor  sent  a  message  to  the  City  Council,  strongly  urging 
the  formation  of  a  public  library,  and  announcing  that  "a 
citizen,"  (since  ascertained  to  be  Mayor  Quincy  himself,) 
"  has  offered  to  give  to  the  city  five  thousand  dollars,  for 
the  purpose  of  making  a  commencement,  on  condition  that 
ten  thousand  dollars  be  raised  for  the  same  purpose,  at 
large,  and  that  the  library  be  open  to  the  public  in  as  free 
a  manner  as  consistent  with  the  safety  of  the  property." 

This  message  was  referred  to  the  committee  above  named, 
with  the  addition  of  the  President  of  the  Common  Council, 
BENJAMIN  SEAVER,  Esq.,  and  Messrs.  SAMUEL  E.  GUILD  and 
JAMES  WHITING,  with  instructions  "to  consider  the  expedi- 
ency of  commencing  the  formation  of  a  public  library,  under 
the  control  and  auspices  of  the  city,  with  authority  to  receive 
donations  for  the  same,  either  in  books  or  money."  At  the 


120  APPENDIX. 

conclusion  of  an  elaborate  report,  the  committee  recom- 
mended the  passage  of  the  following  orders,  which  were 
unanimously  adopted:  — 

Ordered,  —  That  the  City  of  Boston  will  accept  any  donations  from 
citizens  or  others,  for  the  purpose  of  commencing  a  Public  City  Library. 

Ordered,  —  That  whenever  the  library  shall  be  of  the  value  of 
thirty  thousand  dollars,  it  will  be  expedient  for  the  City  to  provide  a 
suitable  place  and  arrangements  to  enable  it  to  be  used  by  the  citizens 
with  as  great  a  degree  of  freedom,  as  the  security  of  the  property  will 
permit. 

This  was  the  first  official  encouragement  of  the  establish- 
ment of  an  institution,  which,  two  years  later,  began  to  find 
favor  with  our  citizens,  and  which,  from  a  small  beginning, 
has  risen  so  rapidly  in  the  public  estimation  and  interest,  as 
to  place  it  among  the  most  important  of  our  permanent 
educational  facilities. 

In  the  year  1848,  the  "Joint  Special  Committee  on  the 
Library,"  of  which  Mayo?  Quincy  was  chairman,  proposed  a 
union  of  the  City  Library  with  the  Boston  Athenaeum.  For 
this  purpose  they  entered  into  a  negotiation  with  the  Trus- 
tees, to  render  it  a  public  institution,  so  far  as  its  library  was 
concerned.  The  Trustees  voted,  to  "  recommend  to  the  pro- 
prietors that  they  should  give  to  the  public  the  use  of  the 
library,  in  as  full  a  manner  as  it  now  is,  or  hereafter  may  be, 
enjoyed  by  the  shareholders,  on  the  following  conditions: 
first,  that,  there  shall  be  paid  to  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Athenaeum  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars;  second,  that 
the  City  shall  pay  annually  to  the  said  Treasurer  the  sum 
of  five  thousand  dollars,  in  quarterly  payments,  it  being 
understood,  that  the  management  of  the  library  shall  be 
confided  to  ten  Directors,  six  of  whom  shall  be  chosen  by 
the  Trustees,  and  four  by  the  City  Council."  This  propo- 
sition was,  however,  rejected  by  the  proprietors,  and  the 
project  failed. 


HISTORICAL   FACTS.  121 

In  the  year  1849,  a  considerable  progress  was  made  in 
forming  the  Public  Library.  Hon.  EDWARD  EVERETT  ten- 
dered to  his  Honor,  JOHN  P.  BIGELOW,  the  mayor,  his  large 
collection  of  congressional  documents  and  state  papers, 
together  with  many  other  valuable  works,  numbering  about 
one  thousand  bound  volumes.  They  embrace  the  most  im- 
portant documents  from  the  foundation  of  the  Federal  Gov- 
vernnient,  to  the  year  1840.  On  the  thirty-first  of  October, 
one  hundred  and  eighty-seven  volumes  of  bound  public  docu- 
ments were  sent  to  the  library  by  Hon.  ROBERT  C.  WINTHROP. 
Two  hundred  and  nineteen  volumes  were  presented  by  J.  D. 
W.  WILLIAMS,  Esq.  Contributions  of  books  followed,  in 
rapid  succession,  from  Hon.  S.  A.  ELIOT,  Dr.  J.  MASON  WAR- 
REN and  others,  all  of  which  were  deposited  and  kept  in 
the  room  in  the  City  Hall  appropriated  for  the  purpose, 
under  the  charge  of  the  Secretary  of  the  School  Commit- 
tee, Mr.  EDWARD  CAPEN,  the  present  efficient  Librarian.  No 
persons,  however,  were  allowed  to  borrow  the  books  except- 
ing those  officially  engaged  at  the  City  Hall. 

On  the  fifth  of  August,  1850,  Mayor  BIGELOW  contributed 
one  thousand  dollars  in  aid  of  the  establishment  of  the  Public 
Library.  This  was  regarded  as  a  valuable  donation,  from 
the  fact  that  it  was  the  first  money  contributed,  and  was 
very  gratefully  received  and  funded  by  the  City  Council,  who 
directed  the  Committee  on  the  Library  "to  proceed,  with 
as  little  delay  as  possible,  to  carry  into  effect  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Free  Public  Library." 

On  the  seventh  of  August,  Mr.  Everett  formally  notified 
the  City  Council  of  his  desire  and  intention  to  make  the 
large  contribution  of  books  which  he  had  previously  promised, 
and  whish,  he  stated,  had  cost  him  a  great  amount  of  time, 
labor  and  expense  to  collect,  whenever  it  would  be  conve- 
nient to  receive  them.  In  his  letter,  he  says,  "I  hope  it 
will  not  be  thought  intrusion  in  me  to  express  the  opinion, 
that,  if  the  City  Government  would  provide  a  suitable  build- 

16 


122  APPENDIX. 

ing  for  a  public  library,  it  would  be  so  amply  supplied, 
from  time  to  time,  by  donations,  that  only  a  moderate 
annual  appropriation  for  books  would  be  wanted.  If,  on 
a  lot  of  public  land,  a  building  were  commenced,  aiming 
at  nothing  but  convenience  and  neatness,  (and  all  attempts 
to  go  farther  in  architecture  are  almost  sure  to  fail,) 
and  so  planned  as  to  admit  future  enlargement,  the  first 
expense  need  not  exceed  that  of  one  of  those  numerous 
school  houses,  of  which  the  City  does  not  hesitate  to  erect 
one  every  two  or  three  years.  The  more  retired  the  situ- 
ation the  better.  The  library  ought  not  to  be  a  show  place 
for  strangers,  nor  a  lounge  for  idlers;  but  a  quiet  retreat 
for  persons  of  both  sexes  who  desire  earnestly  to  improve 
their  minds." 

In  a  subsequent  letter  to  the  mayor,  when  a  place  of  deposit 
had  been  provided,  Mr.  Everett  again  urged  the  importance 
of  erecting  a  building  for  the  Public  Library,  and  said :  "  I 
remain  of  the  opinion,  which  I  took  the  liberty  of  express- 
ing last  year,  that  if  the  City  would  provide  a  suitable 
building,  affording  present  accommodation  for  fifteen  or 
twenty  thousand  volumes,  and  so  constructed  as  to  admit 
of  enlargement  hereafter,  a  valuable  public  library  would 
very  soon  be  formed  by  donation.  A  place  of  deposit 
thus  provided,  the  library,  I  feel  confident,  would  steadily 
increase.  It  would  soon  become  an  object  of  pride  to  the 
citizens  of  Boston,  and  every  one  would  feel  it  an  honor 
to  do  something  for  it." 

The  "  Joint  Standing  Committee  on  the  Public  Library," 
for  the  year  1851,  in  their  report,  being  City  Document  No. 
79,  earnestly  commended  the  institution  to  the  fostering  care 
of  the  City  Council,  and  referred  "  the  question  of  an  outlay 
for  the  erection  of  a  suitable  library  building  to  a  future 
City  Council." 

On  the  nineteenth  of  February,  1852,  his  Honor  the 
Mayor  sent  a  message  to  the  City  Council,  as  follows:  — 


HISTORICAL  FACTS.  123 

HENRY  J.  GARDNER,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Common  Council. 

SIR  :  —  I  deem  it  expedient,  at  this  early  period  in  the  year,  to 
call  the  attention  of  the  City  Council  to  the  present  condition  of  the 
public  library.  It  is  now  about  four  years  since  the  legislature  .  .  . 
passed  an  act  authorizing  the  City  of  Boston  to  establish  and  maintain 
a  public  library,  for  the  use  of  its  inhabitants.  Pursuant  to  this  act, 
the  City  Council  established  a  free  public  library,  and  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  see  to  its  interests.  On  their  recommendation  a  small  room 
on  the  third  floor  of  the  City  Hall  was  appropriated  to  its  use ;  and, 
although  the  number  of  books  thus  far  received  does  not  exceed  four 
thousand  volumes,  more  ample  accommodations  are  already  needed,  in 
order  to  place  the  books  in  a  condition  for  use.  It  can  hardly  be 
expected  that  our  citizens  will  feel  disposed  to  make  liberal  donations 
to  the  library  before  at  least  suitable  rooms  for  the  reception  and  safe 
keeping  of  books  are  provided.  .  .  .  There  should  be,  it  seems  to  me, 
no  unnecessary  delay  in  placing  the  library  on  such  a  foundation  as  will 
entitle  it  to,  and  secure  for  it,  the  fullest  confidence  of  the  community 
in  its  success  and  usefulness.  .  .  . 

In  order  to  carry  this  institution  into  successful  operation,  I  respect- 
fully suggest  that  a  librarian  be  appointed,  and  a  large  room  or  rooms, 
easy  of  access,  in  a  central  portion  of  the  city,  be  secured,  as  the  one 
now  occupied  has  always  been  regarded  more  as  a  place  for  the  deposit 
of  books,  than  as  a  suitable  situation  for  a  permanent  library.  I  would 
also  respectfully  suggest  for  your  consideration  the  propriety  of  appoint- 
ing a  board  of  directors  or  ...  trustees  for  the  public  library. 

The  recommendations  I  have  ventured  to  make  will  involve  a  small 
expenditure  only,  and  will,  I  believe,  bring  to  the  library  many  times 

the  amount  required  to  carry  them  out. 

BENJAMIN  SEAVER,  Mayor. 

This  message  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  the 
Library,  who,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  April,  submitted  a 
report  in  conformity  with  the  recommendations  of  the  Mayor, 
and,  also,  the  following  order:  — 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Joint  Standing  Committee  on  the  Public 
Library  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  authorized  to  procure  suitable  rooms 
for  the  deposit  and  arrangement  of  the  books  belonging  to  the  Public 
Library." 


124  APPENDIX. 

A  librarian  and  a  board  of  trustees  were  elected,  and  they 
were  "requested  to  report  to  the  City  Council  upon  the 
objects-  to  be  attained  by  the  establishment  of  a  public 
library,  and  the  best  mode  of  effecting  them."  This  report, 
being  City  Document  No.  37,  was  submitted  on  the  sixth  of 
July.  After  an  able  and  forcible  exposition  of  the  subject, 
the  Trustees  remark,  "the  commencement  of  such  a  library 
should  be  made,  of  preference,  in  a  very  unpretending  man- 
ner ;  spending  such  moneys  as  may  be  appropriated  for  the 
purpose,  chiefly  on  books  that  are  known  to  be  really  wanted, 
rather  than  on  such  as  will  make  an  imposing,  a  scientific, 
or  a  learned  collection.  .  .  . 

"  If  it  were  probable  that  the  City  Council  would  deem  it 
expedient  at  once  to  make  a  large  appropriation  for  the 
erection  of  a  building  and  the  purchase  of  an  ample  library, 
and  that  the  citizens  at  large  would  approve  such  an  expendi- 
ture, the  Trustees  would,  of  course,  feel  great  satisfaction 
in  the  prompt  achievement  of  an  object  of  such  high  public 
utility.  But  in  the  present  state  of  the  finances  of  the  city, 
and  in  reference  to  an  object  on  which  the  public  mind  is 
not  yet  enlightened  by  experience,  the  Trustees  regard  any 
such  appropriation  and  expenditure  as  entirely  out  of  the 
question.  They  look,  therefore,  only  to  the  continuance  of 
such  moderate  and  frugal  expenditure,  on  the  part  of  the 
city,  as  has  been  already  authorized  and  commenced,  for  the 
purchase  of  books  and  the  compensation  of  the  librarian; 
and  for  the  assignment  of  a  room  or  rooms  in  some  one 
of  the  public  buildings  belonging  to  the  city  for  the  reception 
of  the  books  already  on  hand,  or  which  the  Trustees  have 
the  means  of  procuring.  With  aid  to  this  extent  on  the  part 
of  the  city,  the  Trustees  believe  that  all  else  may  be  left  to 
the  public  spirit  and  liberality  of  individuals.  .  .  . 

"  In  order  to  put  the  library  into  operation  with  the  least 
possible  delay,  the  Trustees  would  propose  to  the  City  Gov- 
ernment to  appropriate  for  this  purpose  the  ground  floor  of 


HISTORICAL   FACTS.  125 

the  Adams  school  house  in  Mason  street.  They  are  led  to 
believe  that  it  will  not  be  needed  for  the  use  of  the  Normal 
School  proposed  to  be  established  in  this  building.  It  may 
be  made,  at  a  small  expense,  to  afford  ample  accommodation 
for  four  or  five  thousand  volumes,  with  an  adjoining  room  for 
reading  and  consulting  books,  and  it  will  admit  of  easy  .en- 
largement to  twice  its  present  dimensions.  Such  an  apart- 
ment would  enable  the  Trustees  at  once  to  open  the  library 
with  five  thousand  volumes,  a  collection  of  sufficient  magni- 
tude to  afford  a  fair  specimen  of  the  benefits  of  such  an 
establishment  to  the  city. 

"Should  it  win  the  public  favor, as  the  Trustees  cannot  but 
anticipate,  it  will  soon  reach  a  size  which  will  require  en- 
larged premises.  These,  as  we  have  said,  can  be  easily 
provided  by  the  extension  of  the  present  room  on  the  ground 
floor ;  and  it  will  be  time  enough,  when  the  space  at  com- 
mand is  filled  up,  to  consider  what  further  provision  need  be 
made  for  the  accommodation  of  the  library." 

Upon  the  acceptance  of  the  report  by  the  City  Council, 
it  was 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  are  hereby 
authorized  to  appropriate  so  much  of  the  ground  floor  of  the  Adams 
school  house,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  and  accommodating  the 
Public  Library  as  they  may  deem  expedient,  and  to  furnish  such  fixtures 
as  may  be  necessary  to  carry  out  the  plan  of  such  a  library  as  is  sug- 
gested in  said  report. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  held  for  the  pur- 
pose, a  plan  was  submitted  by  Dr.  NATHANIEL  B.  SHUKTLEFF 
of  the  necessary  alterations  in  the  premises.  It  was  then 

Yoted,  —  That  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings,  be  requested 
to  fit  up  the  lower  floor  of  the  Adams  school  house,  for  the  purposes  of 
the  Public  Library,  according  to  a  plan  approved  at  this  meeting. 


126  APPENDIX. 

In  October,  1852,  a  letter  was  received  by  the  Mayor 
from  JOSHUA  BATES,  Esq.,  a  distinguished  merchant  of  Lon- 
don, and  a  native  of  Boston,  offering  to  pay  for  the  books 
required  to  establish  the  library  on  a  liberal  scale,  "  thus 
leaving  to  the  City  to  provide  the  building  and  take  care 
of, the  expenses. 

"  The  only  condition  I  ask  is,  that  the  building  shall  be 
such  as  shall  be  an  ornament  to  the  City  —  that  there  shall 
be  room  for  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons  to 
sit  at  reading  tables  —  that  it  shall  be  perfectly  free  to  all, 
with  no  other  restrictions  than  may  be  necessary  for  the 
preservation  of  the  books.  What  the  building  may  cost,  I 
am  unable  to  estimate;  but  the  books  —  counting  additions 
during  my  life-time  —  I  estimate  at  $50,000,  which  I  shall 
gladly  contribute,  and  consider  it  but  a  small  return  for  the 
many  acts  of  confidence  and  kindness  I  have  received  from 
my  many  friends  in  your  City." 

An  appropriate  acknowledgment  was  made  by  the  City 
Council,  and  it  was 

Ordered,  —  That  whenever  an  edifice  is  constructed  for  the  Public 
Library,  the  Trustees  be,  and  they  hereby  are,  directed  to  appropriate 
a  suitable  hall  for  the  deposit  and  arrangement  of  statues,  paintings,  and 
other  memorials  of  those  persons  who  have  distinguished,  or  shall  here- 
after distinguish  themselves,  by  acts  of  liberality  to  the  religious,  char- 
itable, or  literary  institutions  of  the  city. 

This  munificent  donation  gave  a  powerful  and  efficient 
impulse  to  the  enterprise. 

In  the  year  1853,  the  City  Council  resolved  to  proceed 
with  vigor.  In  his  inaugural  address,  Mayor  Seaver  com- 
mended the  institution  to  their  prompt  attention,  adding, 
"  the  report  of  the  Trustees,  as  it  involves,  in  part,  sug- 
gestions for  the  erection  of  a  building,  and  for  carrying 
forward  the  Library  on  a  scale  more  ample  than  was  at  first 
contemplated,  has  not  yet  been  made.  But  I  feel  sure  that 


HISTORICAL  FACTS.  127 

our  municipal  authorities  will  faithfully  do  their  part  in  this 
great  work." 

After  the  appointment  and  organization  of  the  Committee 
on  the  Library,  the  following  order  was  passed:  — 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Joint  Standing  Committee  on  the  Public 
Library,  in  conference  with  the  Board  of  Trustees,  be,  and  they  are 
hereby,  authorized  to  procure  and  purchase  a  suitable  site  for  the  erection 
of  a  building,  which  shall  be  adequate  to  all  the  purposes  for  which 
the  Public  Library  of  the  City  of  Boston  has  been  established. 

Under  this  order,  the  Committee  and  the  Trustees  met 
in  convention  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  February.  The  Mayor 
presented  a  plan,  executed  by  Dr.  Nathaniel  B.  Shurtleff,  one 
of  the  Trustees,  "  of  an  estate  belonging  to  the  heirs  of  the 
late  Caleb  G-.  Loring,  intended  to  show  that  an  edifice,  ade- 
quate to  the  purposes  for  which  the  Library  had  been  estab- 
lished, could  be  erected  thereon."  After  examination  and 
discussion,  it  was 

Voted,  —  To  authorize  the  Mayor  to  purchase  the  Loring  estate  at 
a  price  not  exceeding  four  dollars  per  square  foot. 

The  purchase  was  immediately  effected  by.  the  Mayor, 
and  the  fact  was  communicated  to  the  City  Council  on  the 
seventeenth  of  March.  Upon  the  same  evening,  in  the  Com- 
mon Council,  several  remonstrances  were  presented,  "  against 
locating  the  free  city  library  in  Somerset  street,  because  a  more 
central  situation  should  be  fixed  upon,  having  a  regard  to  the 
location  of  existing  public  libraries,  and,  also,  to  the  future 
population  of  the  city ;  and,  because  a  structure  for  such  an 
institution  should  be  so  situated  that  its  architectural  beauties 
may  be  properly  seen  and  appreciated,  and  so  as  to  render 
it  an  ornament  to  the  city  and  the  pride  of  all  her  citizens." 
These  remonstrances  were  signed  by  several  hundreds  of  the 
citizens  of  Boston,  and  were,  severally,  referred  to  the  Com- 


128  APPENDIX. 

mittee  on  the  Public  Library,  who  gave  the  parties  a  hear- 
ing. Messrs.  A.  W.  GRISWOLD,  E.  F.  HODGES,  and  E.  HASKET 
DERBY  appeared  for  the  remonstrants. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  April,  the  committee  reported,  that 
the  Loring  estate  could  be  sold  to  the  First  Baptist  Society, 
at  its  cost,  together  with  interest  and  incidental  expenses, 
and  that  more  eligible  land  for  a  site,  situated  in  Boylston 
street  could  now  be  purchased.  Whereupon,  the  following 
order  was  passed,  viz: 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Committee  on  the  Public  Library,  in  confer- 
ence with  the  Board  of  Trustees  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  authorized  to 
dispose  of  the  Loring  estate,  purchased  by  the  City  for  the  Public 
Library. 

About  the  time  of  the  purchase  of  this  land,  another 
attempt  was  made  to  unite  the  Public  Library  and  the  Bos- 
ton Athenaeum.  A  proposition  was  made  by  several  of  the 
shareholders  of  that  institution,  to  transfer  their  shares  to 
the  City,  provided  the  remainder  would  sell  their  interest 
for  a  reasonable  sum. 

This  was  strongly  opposed  by  others  of  the  shareholders, 
and  more  particularly,  by  the  venerable  and  honorable  JOSIAH 
QUINCY,  the  sole  survivor  of  the  first  five  subscribers,  who 
published  a  vigorous  and  able  "  Appeal  in  behalf  of  the  Bos- 
ton Athenaeum."  A  meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  called 
to  determine  the  question,  at  which  Mr.  Quincy  was  present 
and  very  earnestly  and  eloquently  entreated  and  conjured 
them  to  "put  down,  by  an  overwhelming  majority,  every 
attempt  to  transfer  this  sacred  trust  to  the  City  Authorities." 
Fortunately,  the  counsels  of  the  venerable  sage  prevailed, 
and,  after  a  lengthened  and  heated  discussion,  the  project 
was  defeated. 

While  the  negotiations  for  the  sale  of  the  lot  in  Somerset 
street  were  progressing,  in  the  Common  Council,  on  motion 
of  PELHAM  BOXNEY,  Esq.,  it  was 


HISTORICAL  FACTS.  129 

\ 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Committee  on  the  Public  Library,  in  con- 
junction with  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings,  consider  the  practi- 
cability and  expediency  of  providing  for  the  Public  Library  and  further 
accommodations  for  the  City  Government,  by  erections  on  the  City's 
land  on  School  street,  by  additions  to  the  present  City  Hall,  or  by  an 
entirely  new  erection,  for  the  two  objects,  upon  the  site  of  the  present 
City  Hall  and  lands  appurtenant. 

Two  reports  were  submitted  by  the  Committees  to  the 
City  Council.  The  majority  report,  which  was  accepted, 
was  as  follows:  — 

That,  after  seeing  the  elegant  and  commodious  plans  prepared  by  a 
sub-committee,  they  have,  by  a  vote  of  seven  to  four,  declared  "  that  it 
is  impracticable  and  inexpedient  to  provide  for  the  Public  Library,  either 
by  erecting  additions  to  the  present  City  Hall,  or  by  erecting  upon  its 
site  and  the  lands  appurtenant,  a  new  structure,  which  shall  provide 
accommodations  for  the  City  Government  and  for  the  City  Library  in 
one  building." 

For  the  Committee, 

GEORGE  W.  WARREN. 

The  minority  of  the  united  committees,  through  Alder- 
man BENJAMIN  JAMES,  submitted  plans  for  a  spacious  build- 
ing on  the  City  Hall  land,  to  answer  the  purposes  of  a 
public  library  and  municipal  offices.  The  apartments  assigned 
to  the  library  were  in  the  third  story,  as  follows :  "  One 
room  on  the  west  side,  extending  from  front  to  rear,  say 
one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  by  thirty-eight  in  the  clear, 
which  can  be  lighted  both  by  windows  on  the  sides  and 
by  sky  lights,  and  capable  of  holding  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  volumes  at  least.  When  more  room  is 
required,  that  on  the  east  side,  of  the  same  size  as  the 
one  on  the  west,  can  be  appropriated;  and  should  more 
room  then  be  needed,  that  over  the  Court  square  vesti- 
bule and  stairway,  measuring  fifty  feet  by  forty,  can  be 

17 


130  APPENDIX. 

added:  the  latter  would  hold  full  fifty  thousand  volumes. 
It  has  been  estimated  that  these  rooms,  packed  as  many 
libraries  are,  would  contain  over  five  hundred  thousand 
volumes." 

The  City  Council  then  decided,  finally  and  wisely,  to  pro- 
vide accommodations  for  the  library  in  no  other  building  than 
one  erected  exclusively  for  that  purpose.  The  following 
order  was  then  passed :  — 

In  Common  Council,  June  30,  1853. 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Committee  on  the  Library,  in  conjunction  with 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  be  requested  to  select  a  site  for  a  library,  secure 
the  refusal  of  the  same,  and  report  to  the  Council. 

The  Board  of  Aldermen  having  concurred  in  this  order, 
the  Committee  and  the  Trustees  met  in  convention,  and, 
after  careful  deliberation,  agreed  to  submit  the  following- 
report  to  the  City  Council:  — 

The  Joint  Standing  Committee  on  the  Library  and  the  Trustees  .  . 
have  attended  to  the  duty  assigned  them,  and  respectfully  submit,  that 
after  full  deliberation,  they  recommend  as  a  site  for  the  library,  the 
"Wheeler  estate"  and  one  adjoining  it,  on  Boylston  street,  as  the  most 
eligible  of  any  that  have  come  to  their  knowledge,  and  recommend  that 
these  estates  be  purchased,  provided  it  can  be  done  at  reasonable  prices. 

The  Committee  and  the  Trustees  have  deliberated  upon  the  sug- 
gestion of  fixing  the  site  in  the  Public  Garden ;  but  many  objections 
arise  to  this  —  among  them,  the  difficulty  and  expense  of  obtaining  a 
sure  foundation,  the  extra  cost  of  erecting  a  building  in  a  position 
requiring  that  the  four  sides  should  be  finished  with  regard  to  orna- 
ment, and  also  its  exposed  situation  in  the  winter,  rendering  its  use,  at 
this  important  season  of  the  year,  more  limited  to  our  citizens,  and 
especially  the  young,  than  is  desirable. 

BENJAMIN  SEAVER,  Chairman  of  Committee  on  Public  Library. 
EDWARD  EVERETT,  President  of  the  Trustees  of  Public  Library. 


HISTORICAL   FACTS.  131 

NOTE.  After  the  Committee  had  separated,  the  undersigned  re- 
ceived notice  that  an  estate  in  Temple  place,  which,  perhaps,  would  be 
suited  to  the  wants  of  the  Public  Library,  may  possibly  be  obtained  on 
favorable  terms.  The  Council  may,  therefore,  deem  it  advisable  to 
include  this  location  in  any  grant  of  power  they  may  think  it  expe- 
dient to  make  to  purchase  a  site. 

BENJAMIN  SEAVER. 

EDWARD   EVERETT. 

The  report  was  accepted,  and  the  following  order  was 
passed: — 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Committee  on  the  Public  Library,  in  con- 
junction with  the  Board  of  Trustees,  be  authorized  to  purchase,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings,  either  of  the  sites 
indicated  in  the  Committee's  report  of  this  date. 

These  three  committees  proceeded  to  the  discharge  of  the 
trust  devolved  upon  them,  and  authorized  the  Mayor  to  nego- 
tiate for  two  lots  of  land  fronting  on  Boylston  street,  being 
the  same  on  which  the  Public  Library  building  has  been 
erected.  Their  report  was  as  follows:  — 

The  Committee  on  the  Public  Library,  together  with  the  Trustees  .  . 
have,  after  very  careful  consideration,  and  under  direction  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Public  Buildings,  purchased,  as  a  site  for  the  Public  Library, 
the  "Wheeler  estate  and  the  dwelling  house  adjoining,  .  .  containing 
about  thirteen  thousand  three  hundred  square  feet. 

The  material  of  the  present  buildings  will  be  available  when  the 
City  shall  erect  a  library  building.  .  . 

The  whole  amount  of  purchase  money  for  said  estates  is  about 
seventy-three  thousand  dollars,  for  the  payment  of  which  the  City  Coun- 
cil are  respectfully  requested  to  provide  the  means. 

BENJAMIN  SEAVER,  Chairman  of  Committee  on  Public  Library. 
EDWARD  EVERETT,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 


132  APPENDIX. 

The  Committee  on  Public  Buildings,  under  whose  direction  the 
foregoing  estates  were  purchased,  respectfully  unite  in  the  above  recom- 
mendation. 

For  -the  Committee, 

BENJAMIN  JAMES,    Chairman. 

This  report  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Finance, 
and,  on  their  recommendation,  the  Treasurer  was  duly 
authorized  to  borrow  the  amount  necessary  to  meet  the 
cost  of  the  laud. 

In  the  meantime,  the  Trustees  continued  to  receive,  from 
public- spirited  citizens,  valuable  donations  of  money  and 
books  for  the  library,  which  had  already  acquired  a  strong 
hold  upon  the  affections  of  the  people. 

A  letter  was  received  from  Mr.  JAMES  NIGHTINGALE,  en- 
closing one  hundred  dollars,  "  to  be  expended  by  the  Mayor 
and  Aldermen  in  furnishing  any  of  the  rooms  of  the  said 
building,  when  the  same  is  completed,  or  expend  the  same  in 
the  purchasing  of  books  for  the  benefit  and  use  of  the  said 
Library,  as  in  their  judgment  may  seem  best." 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  second  letter  re- 
ceived from  Mr.  BATES:  — 

Be  pleased  to  draw  on  me  for  a  sum  sufficient  to  contribute  a  fund 
of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  to  be  held  by  the  City  of  Boston  in  trust,  that 
its  entire  income,  but  only  its  income,  shall  in  each  and  every  year  here- 
after be  expended  in  the  purchase  of  such  books  of  permanent  value  and 
authority,  as  may  be  found  most  needed  and  most  useful,  and  that  the 
City  will,  so  soon  as  it  may  conveniently  be  done,  provide,  and  always 
hereafter  maintain,  a  suitable  establishment  for  a  Free  Public  Library, 
in  which  arrangements  shall  be  made  for  the  comfortable  accommodation, 
at  one  and  the  same  time,  and  at  all  proper  hours  of  the  day  and 
evening,  for  at  least  one  hundred  readers. 

Extract  from  a  letter  to  the  Major  from  N.  I.  BOWDITCH, 
Esq.,  dated  November  4,  1853:  — 


HISTORICAL   FACTS.  133 

DEAK  SIR,  —  The  City  has  at  last  completed  its  purchase  of  the 
Boylston  street  estates.  I  have  traced  the  several  titles  'back  to  the 
first  settlement  of  the  town  —  the  book  of  possessions.  My  memo- 
randa occupy  more  than  twenty-five  pages.  One  of  the  titles  was 
extremely  complicated.  A  late  owner  had  left  a  will,  untechnically 
drawn,  which  presented  questions  of  difficult  legal  construction.  One 
devise  was  to  the  testator's  son  for  life  with  a  remainder  limited  to  his 
children,  of  such  a  character  as  to  open  and  let  in  any  after-born  chil- 
dren. This  son  died  about  a  year  since.  So  long  as  he  lived  it  would 
have  been  impossible  to  have  obtained  an  indefeasible  title  by  convey- 
ances from  all  his  children.  There  were  eventually  four  minors  inter- 
ested in  this  estate,  and  their  shares  were  sold  under  license  of  court  — 
rendering  necessary  a  careful  examination  of  the  probate  proceedings. 
The  fact,  that  two  of  the  various  deeds  to  the  City  convey,  respectively, 
thirty-two  forty-ninths  of  one  third,  and  seventeen  forty-ninths  of  one 
third  of  this  estate,  sufficiently  shows  the  difficulties  of  the  investigation. 
If  my  professional  experience  has  been  found  of  any  slight  service,  .  .  . 
if  the  corner-stone  of  the  City  Library  shall  have  been  laid  more 
securely  through  any  instrumentality  of  mine  in  removing  legal  obstruc- 
tions —  I  assure  you  that  I  feel  myself  to  have  been  fully  compensated 
by  the  opportunity  thus  afforded  me  of  becoming  a  fellow-laborer  in  a 
good  cause. 

A  generous  donation  of  ten  thousand  dollars  was  made, 
in  this  year,  by  Hon.  JONATHAN  PHILLIPS. 

The  first  annual  report  of  the  Trustees  was  submitted  to 
the  City  Council  on  the  twelfth  of  November.  After  con- 
gratulating the  government  and  the  public  upon  the  condition 
and  prosperity  of  the  Library,  they  proceed  to  speak  of  the 
proposed  building  as  follows :  — "  The  eligible  lot  of  land 
purchased  on  Boylston  street,  unites,  in  a  greater  degree 
than  any  other  which  could  be  obtained,  all  the  important 
conditions  for  such  a  purpose,  and  is  believed  to  be  very 
generally  approved  by  the  public.  The  situation  is  central ; 
it  admits  of  enlargement  on  either  side,  if  hereafter  required ; 
it  can  never  be  overlooked  in  front ;  and  it  commands  a  view 
of  the  Common,  which  secures  to  it  unobstructed  light  and 


134  APPENDIX. 

air,  and  as  fine  a  prospect  as  can  be  enjoyed  in  any  city 
of  the  world.  The  Trustees  are  confident  that  on  this  spot 
a  building  maybe  erected,  at  moderate  cost,  which,  besides 
answering  the  primary  purposes  of  the  library,  will  be  an 
ornament  to  the  city. 

"Such  a  building  will  necessarily  occupy  two  or  three 
years ;  and  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  prosperity 
of  the  Library  that  the  plan  should  -be  in  the  best  taste; 
that  it  should  combine  all  the  most  recent  improvements  in 
library  buildings ;  and  that  such  a  plan,  once  adopted,  should 
be  carried  out  to  its  completion  with  steadiness.  To  attain 
these  ends,  the  Trustees  respectfully  submit  to  the  City 
Council  that  it  might  be  expedient  to  confide  the  superin- 
tendence of  the  structure  to  a  commission  specially  appointed 
for  that  purpose,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  adopt  a  plan  for 
the  building,  employ  a  well-qualified  architect,  make  the 
necessary  contracts,  and  generally  be  responsible  for  the 
work.  Such  a  commission  might  consist  of  a  member  of 
each  branch  of  the  City  Council,  .  .  .  and  of  a  certain  num- 
ber of  citizens  elected  at  large.  Thus  constituted,  the  com- 
mission will,  on  the  one  hand,  be  kept  in  constant  and 
intimate  relations  with  the  City  Government  for  the  time 
being,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  it  will  be  able  to  preserve 
that  unity  of  counsel  and  purpose  which  is  essential  in  the 
execution  of  a  work  of  a  somewhat  novel  and  highly  im- 
portant character." 

Of  their  present  accommodations,  they  remark,  "  The 
Library  cannot  be  opened  to  the  public  until  after  the  end 
of  December,  when  the  outer  of  the  two  rooms  now  appro- 
priated to  it  in  Mason  street  will  cease  to  be  require'd  as 
a  ward  room,  and  can  be  fitted  up  as  a  reading  room,  where 
above  a  hundred  American  and  European  periodicals,  to- 
gether with  the  books  in  the  library,  will  always  be  conve- 
niently accessible.  But  even  after  both  rooms  are  within 
the  control  of  the  Trustees,  the  accommodations  in  Mason 


HISTORICAL   FACTS.  135 

street  will  be  too  small ;  and  before  a  proper  building  can 
be  erected,  they  will  be  found  insufficient  even  for  putting  on 
convenient  shelves  the  books  that  will  have  been  received." 

On  the  fifteenth  of  December,  the  Committee  on  the 
Library  reported,  that  they  concurred  in  the  recommendation 
of  the  appointment  of  special  commissioners,  to  whom  shall 
be  confided  the  erection  of  the  new  library  building,  and 
were  of  the  opinion  that  the  commission  should  consist  of 
one  member  from  each  branch  of  the  City  Council,  one  from 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  two  citizens  at  large.  The  sub- 
ject, however,  was  referred  to  the  next  City  Council. 

On  the  twenty -fourth  of  January,  1854,  by  invitation  of 
the  Trustees,  the  City  Government  visited  the  rooms  newly 
fitted  for  the  library,  to  which  the  books  in  the  City  Hall 
had  been  removed.  The  reading  room  was  opened  to  the 
public  on  the  twentieth  of  March,  and  the  circulation  of 
books  for  home  use  commenced  on  the  second  day  of  May. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  January,  the  report  of  the  previous 
year,  recommending  the  appointment  of  commissioners,  was 
referred  to  the  new  Committee  on  the  Library.  They  subse- 
quently reported  that  they  "unanimously  concur  with  the 
Board  of  Trustees  in  the  great  necessity  of  appointing  a 
permanent  board,  who  shall  be  responsible  for  the  faithful 
and  judicious  performance  of  the  important  trust  confided  to 
their  care ;  and,  in  accordance  with  these  views,  the  Commit- 
tee recommend  the  adoption  of  an  ordinance  providing  for 
the  establishment  of  a  Board  of  Commissioners  on  the 
erection  of  a  Building  for  the  Public  Library  of  the  City 
of  Boston." 

The  ordinance  reported  by  the  committee  (City  Docu- 
ment No.  21)  was  opposed,  partly  from  an  objection  to  the 
proposed  location,  and  partly  from  an  opinion  that  the  erec- 
tion of  the  building  belonged  rather  to  the  Committee  on 
Public  Buildings  than  to  a  special  commission,  and  was 
rejected. 


136  APPENDIX. 

The  following  order  was  offered  by  Alderman  GEORGE 
ODIORNE,  and  passed,  viz : — 

CITY  OF  BOSTON  :  In  Board  of  Aldermen,  March  20,  1854. 
Ordered, —  That  the  Committee  on  the  Public  Library  take  into  con- 
sideration the  expediency  of  locating  the   building  to  be  erected  for 
the  Public  Library  on  some  portion  of  the  land  known  as  the  Public 
Garden,  and  report  upon  the  subject. 

Passed  :  sent  down  for  concurrence. 

J.  Y.  C.  SMITH,  Mayor. 

In  Common  Council,  March  23,  1854.     Concurred. 

ALEXANDER  H.  RICE,  President, 

Another  order  was  soon  adopted,  "  that  the  Committee 
on  Public  Buildings,  in  consultation  with  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, be,  and  they  are  hereby,  instructed  to  report  the  outline 
of  a  plan  and  estimates  for  a  library  building,  which  shall 
be  adapted  to  the  site  owned  by  the  City  on  Boylston  street, 
and  commensurate,  both  in  its  capacity  and  design,  with  the 
intention  and  wishes  of  the  noble  benefactors." 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  September,  the  Committee  on 
the  Library  having  made  no  report  upon  locating  the  build- 
ing upon  the  Public  Garden,  the  papers  were  ordered  to 
"  be  taken  from  the  hands  of  said  committee,  and  referred  to 
a  joint  special  committee,"  consisting  of  Aldermen  G.  ODI- 
ORNE and  JOSIAH  DUNHAM,  Jr.,  and  Messrs.  GEORGE  W.  WAR- 
REN, J.  AMORY  DAVIS  and  JOHN  R.  MULLIN  of  the  Common 
Council.  They  reported  that,  "after  mature  deliberation, 
they  are  unanimously  of  the  opinion,  that  the  interests  of 
the  Public  Library  and  the  faith  of  the  City,  pledged  to 
its  generous  benefactor,  JOSHUA  BATES,  Esq.,  demand  the 
immediate  erection  of  a  building  upon  the  site  already  pur- 
chased in  Boylston  street." 

On  the  ninth  of  November,  the  second  annual  report  of 
the  Trustees  was  presented.  They  urged  the  City  Council 
to  proceed  without  further  delay.  "  The  present  rooms,"  say 


HISTORICAL   FACTS.  137 

they,  "were  regarded  merely  as  a  temporary  provision,  and 
are  already  found  wholly  inadequate  to  the  proper  manage- 
ment of  such  an  institution,  and  to  the  demands  daily  made 
on  it  by  our  citizens.  The  reading  room  is  noisy,  uncom- 
fortable and  unfit  for  its  peculiar  purposes.  The  interior,  or 
proper  library  room,  is  no  better.  It  is  small,  and  so  nearly 
filled  with  books  that  it  will  soon  be  impossible  to  find  places 
for  more.  Notwithstanding  great  dilligence  and  promptitude 
on  the  part  of  the  Librarian  and  his  assistants,  aided  by  an 
admirably  contrived  system  for  the  search  and  delivery  of 
books  asked  for,  it  is  manifestly  impossible,  in  premises  so 
contracted  as  those  now  appropriated  to  the  library,  with  an 
average  of  three  hundred  persons  daily  resorting  to  it,  to 
prevent  occasional  delay  and  crowd.  It  is  hoped  by  the 
Trustees  that  the  convenience  of  more  than  six  thousand 
citizens  who  have  already  subscribed  their  names  for  the  use 
of  the  library,  and  to  whose  number  additions  are  daily  made, 
will  be  thought  by  the  City  Government  to  merit  their  ear- 
liest attention." 

On  the  ninth  of  November,  the  ordinance  for  establishing 
a  Board  of  Commissioners,  which  had  been  rejected  by  the 
Common  Council,  under  a  suspension  of  the  rules,  was  recon- 
sidered and  adopted.  See  City  Document,  No.  120. 

On  the  eleventh  of  December,  the  following  gentlemen 
were  duly  elected  Commissioners,  under  the  ordinance,  viz : 
Hon.  ROBERT  C.  WINTHROP,  LL.D.,  SAMUEL  G.  WARD,  HENRY 
N.  HOOPER,  GEORGE  TICKNOR,  LL.D.,  NATHANIEL  B.  SHURT- 
LEFF,  M.D.,  Alderman  GEORGE  ODIORNE,  and  GEORGE  "W. 
WARREN  of  the  Common  Council.  All  of  these  gentlemen 
accepted  the  appointment  excepting  Henry  N.  Hooper,  Esq., 
whose  declination  was  received  by  the  City  Council  on  the 
twenty-first  of  December. 

The  Commissioners  assembled  at  the  Library  in  Mason 
street,  on  Wednesday,  the  twentieth  of  December,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  organize  "the  Board  by  the  choice  of  Hon.  ROBERT 

18 


138  APPENDIX. 

C.  WINTHROP  for  President.  •  Edward  Capen,  Esq.,  the  Libra- 
rian, acted  as  Clerk,  agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  the  ordi- 
nance. The  President  was  then  "  requested  to  apply  to  the 
City  Council  for  an  appropriation  of  two  thousand  dollars, 
to  cover  the  expense  of  procuring  plans  for  the  Library 
Building,  and  other  preparations  for  erecting  it." 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  December,  another  discussion 
took  place  upon  the  propriety  of  erecting  the  building  upon 
the  Public  Garden,  when  an  order  passed  both  branches  of 
the  government,  authorizing  the  Commissioners  "  to  locate 
the  building  upon  the  lot  upon  Boylston  street,  if,  in  their 
opinion,  it  be  deemed  expedient. 

Upon  the  reception  of  this  order  by  the  Commissioners, 
it  was  unanimously  voted  by  them,  "  that  in  the  opinion  of 
this  Board,  the  lot  of  ground  on  Boylston  street,  purchased 
as  a  site  for  the  Public  Library  Building,  is  a  suitable  place 
for  the  location  of  said  building,  and  that  measures  be  taken 
to  procure  plans  accordingly."  Plans  of  the  land,  and  other 
preparations,  were  immediately  made. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  January,  1855,  the  Board  issued 
a  public  notice  of  their  readiness  to  receive  designs  that 
might  be  submitted  to  them  on  or  before  the  fifteenth  of 
March,  accompanied  by  a  carefully  considered  statement  of 
the  requirements  of  the  building. 

The  general  requirements  were 

1.  That  the  building  be  completely  and  absolutely  fire- 
proof. 

2.  That  thorough  provision  be  made  to  guard  against 
dampness  from  any  cause,  and  all  other  influences  injurious 
to  books. 

3.  That  every  part  of  the  building  be  well  lighted. 

4.  That  the  best  mode  of  heating  and  ventilating  be  pro- 
vided for,  having  in  view  the  health  and  comfort  of  persons 
frequenting  the  Library,  as  well  as  the  preservation  of  books 
and  other  property. 


HISTORICAL   FACTS.  139 

5.  That  proper  provision  be  made  for  the  introduction 
and  use  of  gas  by  stationary  fixtures,  and  also  for  the  intro- 
duction of  water  wherever  it  may  be  needed. 

6.  That  such  general  arrangements  be  made  as  will  best 
ensure  centralization,  so  that  the  Librarian  and  his  assistants 
can  be  readily  informed  of  all  comers  and  goers,  and  that 
the  care  of  the  library  may  be  intrusted  to  as  few  officers 
as  possible. 

The  special  requirements  were 

1.  A  library  hall,  capable   of  containing,  at  least,  two 
hundred  thousand  volumes.     The  alcoves,  or  other  divisions 
of  this  hall,  are  to  be  easily  accessible  from  each  other.     All 
the  divisions  and  shelves  are  to  be  so  contrived  as  to  follow 
strictly  the  decimal  system ;  that  is,  each  of  its  principal  and 
lesser  divisions  is  to  be  in  series  of  tens.     The  shelves  are 
to  be  fixed,  and  not  movable. 

2.  A  general  reading  room,  with  ample  accommodations 
for  at  least  one  hundred  and  fifty  readers  at  tables. 

3.  A  special  reading  room,  for  ladies,  with  seats  for  at 
least  fifty  persons. 

4.  A  room  for  the  delivery  of  books  to  borrowers,  which 
may  be  used  as  a  conversation  room,  with  accommodations 
sufficient  for  at  least  two  hundred  persons. 

5.  A  library  room,  connected  with  the  foregoing,  in  which 
not  less  than  twenty  thousand  volumes  of  books  most  con- 
stantly demanded  for  circulation,  may  be  arranged  on  the 
decimal  system. 

6.  A  Trustees'  room,  of  moderate  proportions. 

7.  A  Librarian's  room,  etc. 

On  the  ninth  of  March,  the  Commissioners  submitted  their 
first  report  to  the  City  Council.  After  detailing  their  pro- 
ceedings to  that  date  they  state  that  "  they  propose  that  the 
front  of  the  building  be  of  brick,  with  stone  dressings ;  not 
excluding,  however,  the  use  of  iron  where  needed. 

"  In  conclusion,  the  Commissioners  cannot  omit  to  say,  as 


140  APPENDIX. 

the  result  of  their  personal  experience  and  observation, 
•while  attending  the  stated  meetings  of  the  Board,  at  the 
rooms  now  used  for  the  Public  Library,  that  they  have  a  deep 
sense  of  the  importance  of  proceeding  with  the  work  in- 
trusted to  them,  as  promptly  and  as  rapidly  as  may  consist 
with  safety  and  success "  .  . 

"A  simple  but  substantial  structure,  ample  in  its  dimen- 
sions, just  in  its  proportions,  absolutely  fire-proof,  and  depend- 
ing for  its  effect  rather  upon  its  adaptation  to  the  use  for 
which  it  is  designed,  than  upon  any  ornamental  architecture 
or  costly  materials,  is  what  is  aimed  at  by  the  Commis- 
sioners; and  they  hope  and  believe  that  such  a  building 
may  be  erected  without  any  undue  expense  or  any  unreason- 
able delay." 

A  room  in  the  Tremont  Temple  was  rented  by  the  Com- 
missioners, and,  on  the  twenty-third  of  March,  the  designs 
which  had  been  received  were  there  opened  and  examined. 

The  attention  of  the  City  Council  was  called  to  the 
vacancy  in  the  Board,  owing  to  the  original  appointment 
having  been  declined  by  Mr.  Hooper.  About  this  time,  the 
resignation  of  ex-Alderman  George  Odiorne  was  received 
and  accepted,  when  the  Committee  on  the  Library,  who  had 
the  subject  under  consideration,  upon  examining  the  ordi- 
nance, discovered  that  it  contained  no  provision,  as  had  been 
intended,  for  the  annual  election  of  two  members  of  the 
City  Council  as  commissioners.  The  Committee,  therefore, 
on  the  twenty-ninth  of  March,  reported  "an  ordinance  in 
addition  to  an  ordinance,  providing  for  the  establishment  of 
a  Board  of  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  a  building  for 
the  Public  Library  of  the  City  of  Boston." 

Section  first  provides,  that  there  shall  be  chosen  annually, 
until  the  building  shall  be  completed,  one  member  of  the 
Board  of  Aldermen  and  two  members  of  the  Common  Coun- 
cil, who  shall  hold  their  office  until  "  others  are  elected  in 
their  stead,  and  who  shall,  with  the  following  Commissioners 


HISTORICAL   FACTS.  141 

now  elected,  viz:  Robert  C.  "Winthrop,  Samuel  G-.  "Ward, 
George  Ticknor  and  Nathaniel  B.  Shurtleff,  constitute  a 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  the  erection  of  the  Public  Li- 
brary Building  of  the  City  of  Boston.  The  four  persons  last 
named  shall  hold  their  office  until  the  completion  of  said 
edifice." 

Section  second  provides,  that  "  they  shall  select  a  proper 
plan  and  design  for  the  edifice,  make  contracts  for  all  the 
labor  arid  materials,  superintend  the  building  thereof,  and 
shall  have  the  sole  charge,  care  and  responsibility  of  the 
building,  warming,  lighting,  ventilating,  draining,  and  furnish- 
ing the  edifice." 

Section  third  provides  for  the  publication  of  notices  for 
proposals  for  contracts,  etc. 

Section  fourth  provides,  that  the  "  Commissioners  shall 
meet  at  stated  periods,  and  cause  a  record  of  their  pro- 
ceedings to  be  kept,  and  for  this  purpose  the  Librarian  of 
the  Public  Library  shall  act  as  their  clerk;  and  they  shall 
make  a  report  of  their  doings  to  the  City  Council,  once  in 
six  months,  and  oftener,  if  thereto  required  by  a  vote  of  the 
City  Council."  ' 

Section  fifth  requires  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Build- 
ings to  perform  such  services  as  may  be  demanded  of  him 
by  the  Commissioners. 

This  ordinance  having  been  adopted,  and  having  received 
the  approval  of  the  Mayor,  the  City  Council  preceded  to  the 
election  of  Commissioners,  as  required,  and  duly  elected 
Alderman  CHAELES  WOODBERBY  and  Messrs.  JOSEPH  A.  POND 
and  BRADBURY  G-.  PRESCOTT  of  the  Common  Council.  Mr. 
Prescott  having  declined  the  appointment,  EDWARD  F.  PORTER, 
Esq.,  was  elected. 

These  gentlemen,  with  the  permanent  Commissioners 
named  in  the  ordinance,  assembled  at  the  room  in  the  Tre- 
mont  Temple  on  the  fourteenth  of  April,  when  the  Board 


142  APPENDIX. 

was  reorganized,  and  the  designs,  twenty-four  in  number, 
were  reopened. 

Twelve  meetings,  each  of  an  average  length  of  more  than 
two  hours,  were  devoted  to  the  examination  of  the  designs, 
many  of  which  aiforded  gratifying  proof  of  the  advanced 
state  of  architectural  knowledge  and  taste  in  the  com- 
munity. On  the  twenty-seventh  of  April,  the  Commissioners 
proceeded  to  the  selection  of  a  design,  by  ballot,  and  that  of 
Mr.  CHAELES  KIRK  KIRBY,  which  most  nearly  coincided  with 
their  ideas,  was  adopted. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  May,  the  following  public  notice  was 
inserted  in  the  newspapers* 

The  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  a  building  for  the  Public 
Library  will  receive  Sealed  Proposals,  until  Friday,  the  first  day  of 
June  next,  at  12  o'clock,  M.,  for  furnishing  and  laying,  by  the  thousand, 
all  the  bricks,  and  furnishing  and  setting,  by  the  perch,  all  the  rough 
stone,  required  in  the  construction  of  the  building ;  also  for  furnishing 
and  setting  the  hammered  stone,  by  the  foot,  and  furnishing  and  setting 
the  iron  required,  according  to  the  plans  adopted  by  the  Commis- 
sioners, etc. 

Pkns,  specifications  and  working  drawings  can  be  examined  after 
the  twenty-second  instant,  and  information  obtained  at  the  office  of 
C.  K.  KIRBT,  Architect^  etc. 

ROBERT   C.  WINTHROP, 
SAMUEL  Gr.  WARD, 
.    GEORGE  TICKNOR, 
NATHANIEL  B.  SHURTLEFF, 
CHARLES  WOODBERRY, 
JOSEPH  A.  POND, 
EDWARD  F.  PORTER, 

Commissioners. 

Eleven  proposals  were  received,  of  which  the  most  favor- 
able, for  the  whole  work,  had  been  made  by  Mr.  NATHAN 
DRAKE,  a  well  known  and  experienced  mechanic  of  this  city. 

On  the  sixth  of  June,  the  Commissioners  transmitted 
their  second  report  to  the  City  Council.  The  report  states 


HISTORICAL  FACTS.  143 

that  they  "  propose  at  present  to  contract  for  the  brick, 
stone  and  iron  work  of  the  frame  of  the  building,  leaving  the 
interior  finish  to  be  more  carefully  estimated  and  contracted 
for  hereafter.  They  are  unanimously  of  opinion  that  the 
building  now  proposed  to  be  erected  will  be  a  substantial, 
convenient  and  ample  edifice,  absolutely  fire-proof,  and  that 
it  will  present  a  front  on  the  Common,  which,  without  any 
ostentatious  ornament,  will  do  no  discredit  to  the  taste  of 
our  city.  They  respectfully  ask  for  an  appropriation,  for 
the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  design  that  has  been 
adopted." 

Upon  the  acceptance  of  the  report  an  order  was  adopted 
"  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  .  .  a  sum  of 
money  not  exceeding  ninety-five  thousand  dollars,  and  that 
the  same  be  appropriated  to  meet,  in  part,  the  cost  of  the 
erection  of  the  Public  Library  Building,  in  conformity  with 
the  report  of  the  Commissioners.'' 

On  the  fourteenth  of  June,  the  contract  by  and  between 
the  City  of  Boston,  represented  by  the  Commissioners,  of 
the  first  part,  and  Nathan  Drake,  mason,  of  the  second  part, 
received  the  signature  of  each  member  of  the  Board  and  of 
Mr.  Drake,  in  the  presence  of  his  Honor  the  Mayor,  and  the 
Clerk  and  Architect  of  the  Commission. 

The  rooms  in  Mason  street  having  been  entirely  filled, 
the  Trustees  applied  to  the  City  Council  for  additional  apart- 
ments for  the  temporary  deposit  of  books.  This  application 
was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings,  who  im- 
mediately placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Trustees  two  small 
rooms  in  the  Quincy  school  house,  in  Tyler  street. 

The  following  orders  for  the  purchase  of  additional  land, 
passed  the  City  Council,  by  a  very  large  vote: 

CITY  OF  BOSTON  :  In  Common  Council,  July  5,  1855. 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Treasurer  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  authorized  to 

borrow  .  .  a  sum  not  exceeding  twenty-four  thousand  dollars,  the  same 


144  APPENDIX. 

to  be  applied  to  the  purchase  of  a  lot  of  land,  situated  on  Van  Ranas- 
leer  place,  and  adjoining  the  land  upon  which  the  Public  Library  build- 
ing is  being  erected ;  said  lot,  or  a  portion  thereof,  to  be  added  to  the 
library  estate. 

Passed ;  yeas  40,  nay  1.     Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

JOSEPH  STORY,  President. 

In  Board  of  Aldermen,  July  9,  1855.     Concurred;  yeas  9,  nays  3. 

WILLIAM  WASHBURN,  Chairman. 

July  12, 1855.    Approved. 

J.  V.   C.  SMITH,  Mayor. 

It  was  also 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  be,  and  they 
hereby  are,  instructed  to  purchase  forthwith  the  lot  of  land  on  Van 
Ransaleer  place,  and  that,  when  said  purchase  is  effected,  the  land  shall 
be  added  to  the  library  estate,  and  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Com- 
missioners on  the  erection  of  the  building. 

The  Committee  referred  the  subject  to  a  sub-committee, 
consisting  of  Alderman  SALMA  E.  GOULD  and  Councilmen 
ARTEMAS  STONE  and  JOSEPH  A.  POND,  who  proceeded  to 
purchase  the  land,  and,  on  the  fourth  of  August,  they  form- 
ally notified  the  Commissioners  that  the  same  had  been 
added  to  the  library  estate,  and  placed  at  their  disposal. 

The  Commissioners -were  constantly  and  actively  engaged, 
with  the  regular  attendance  and  assistance  of  the  Architect, 
in  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  frequent  meetings  being  held 
at  the  Mayor's  office,  City  Hall.  In  order  to  guard  the  in- 
terests of  the  City,  Messrs.  David  Granger  and  William 
Sparrell,  surveyors,  were  appointed  "  to  inspect  and  measure 
the  work,  from  time  to  time,  as  the  Architect  may  direct." 

On  the  fifth  of  September,  the  Commissioners  formally 
notified  the  City  Council  that  the  work  was  in  such  a  state 
of  forwardness,  that  the  corner-stone  might  be  laid  on  the 
seventeenth  instant.  A  committee  of  arrangements  was 


HISTORICAL  FACTS.  145 

appointed,  and,  at  the  request  of  the  Commissioners,  the 
corner-stone  was  laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  on  Mon- 
day, the  seventeenth  day  of  September,  at  four  o'clock,  P.M., 
by  his  Honor,  J.  V.  C.  SMITH,  the  mayor,  in  presence  of  the 
City  Council,  and  a  great  concourse  of  people.  On  this  occa- 
sion, an  eloquent  and  appropriate  address  was  delivered  by 
Hon.  ROBERT  C.  WINTHROP,  the  President  of  the  Commission. 
As  soon  as  information  was  received  by  Mr.  BATES,  the 
munificent  patron  of  the  library,  in  London,  that  the  erection 
of  the  building  had  been  commenced,  he  addressed  a  letter 
to  the  Mayor,  in  which  he  says, 

I  learn  with  great  satisfaction  that  the  building  for  a  free  public 
library,  for  which  such  liberal  appropriations  have  been  made  by  the 
City  Council,  is  in  progress  of  erection.  .  .  It  has  been  with  the  great- 
est pleasure  that  I  have,  from  time  to  time,  learned  that'even  under  the 
disadvantage  of  temporary  and  inconvenient  premises  for  the  arrange- 
ment of  its  books  and  the  accommodation  of  those  who  use  them,  it 
has  found  great  favor  with  the  community  and  with  many  liberal  indi- 
viduals, and  has  already  given  promise  of  becoming  an  ornament  and  a 
blessing  to  the  City. 

It  is,  I  understand,  certain,  that  within  two  years  a  building  will  be 
completed  of  dimensions  amply  sufficient  for  the  reception  at  once  of 
a  large  number  of  books,  and  for  the  regular  future  increase  of  the 
library.  .  .  It  is  desirable  and  important  to  render  this  free  public 
library  at  once  extensively  useful  as  a  large  collection  of  books^  in  as 
many  departments  of  human  knowledge  as  possible.  For  this  purpose 
I  now  propose,  in  addition  to  the  fund  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  already 
constituted,  to  purchase  and  present  to  the  City  a  considerable  number 
of  books  in  trust,  that  the  same  shall  always  be  accessible,  in  a  conve- 
nient and  becoming  library  building,  to  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  gener- 
ally, under  such  regulations  as  may  be  deemed  needful  by  the  persons 
to  whom  the  government  of  the  institution  may,  from  time  to  time,  be 
confided. 

This  new  and  liberal  offer  was  gratefully  accepted,  with 
suitable  acknowledgments,  by  the  City  Council,  and  it  was 

19 


146  APPENDIX. 

Resolved,  —  That  the  Mayor  be  desired  to  request  Mr.  Bates,  in 
the  name  of  the  City  of  Boston,  to  sit  for  his  bust,  in  marble  or  bronze, 
at  his  pleasure,  and  to  any  artist  he  may  select,  in  order  that  it  may  be 
placed  in  the  building  of  the  Public  Library,  as  an  enduring  memorial 
of  the  City's  obligation  and  gratitude. 

The  letter  and  the  action  thereon  were  sent  to  the  Trus- 
tees, who,  on  the.  eighteenth  of  October,  reported,  that  "the 
rooms  in  Mason  street  and  in  the  Quincy  school  house  can 
contain  no  more  books  than  will,  in  the  course  of  the  next 
two  months,  be  placed  in  them,  independently  of  the  large 
additions  offered  by  Mr.  Bates.  The  Trustees,  therefore, 
find  themselves  wholly  without  means  to  meet  the  require- 
ments made  upon  them.  They  have  nowhere  to  put  the 
books  that  Mr.  Bates  is  about  to  send.  In  consequence, 
they  ask  the  City  Government  for  a  further  appropriation, 
to  be  expended  in  hiring  suitable  premises  where  shelves 
may  be  immediately  erected,  and  the  books  be  opened,  aired, 
catalogued  and  arranged;  in  paying  for  the  services  of  the 
persons  who  will,  necessarily,  be  employed  in  this  work ;  and 
in  meeting  the  incidental  expenses,  so  that  the  books  can  be 
put  upon  the  shelves  of  the  new  building  as  soon  as  that 
structure  shall  be  completed.  Otherwise,  a  year  or  more 
will  be  lost  before  the  books  can  be  prepared,  in  the  new 
building,  for  public  use.  Besides  which,  the  Trustees  would 
not,  jdllingly,  be  held  responsible  for  the  injury  to  which 
the  books  will  certainly  be  exposed,  unless  other  premises 
than  they  now  possess  are  provided." 

This  communication  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on 
the  Library,  who  subsequently  reported  "  that  the  rooms 
appropriated  to  the  library  are  already  filled  to  overflow- 
ing, so  that  no  more  books  can  be  placed  in  them,  nor  can 
their  capacity  be  enlarged.  A  commodious  building  should 
be  rented  without  delay,  where  they  may  be  received  and  pre- 
pared to  take  their  places  upon  the  shelves  of  the  new  build- 
ing. .  .  Three  thousand  dollars,  it  is  believed,  will  be  needed 


HISTORICAL   FACTS.  147 

to  provide  suitable  premises,  to  shelve,  warm  and  light  the 
rooms  for  use,  and  to  pay  the  persons  who  will  be  indis- 
pensable to  prepare  the  books  for  circulation." 

The  necessary  appropriation  having  been  made,  the  sub- 
ject was  referred  by  the  Trustees  to  a  sub-committee,  who 
reported  that  they  had  rented  "  the  house  No.  13,  on  the  east 
side  of  Boylston  place,  for  the  reception  and  preparation  for 
use  of  books  that  have  been  or  may  be  received  from  Mr. 
Bates,  or  otherwise." 

On  the  thirteenth  of  November,  the  third  annual  report  of 
the  Trustees  was  received.  Of  the  new  building  they  remark  : 

"  The  plan  of  the  building,  it  is  believed,  includes  the 
most  recent  improvements  in  the  construction  of  public  libra- 
ries. It  will  be  completely  fire-proof,  being  almost  wholly 
constructed  of  stone,  brick  and  iron.  A  double  outside  wall 
will  secure  it  from  dampness,  and  it  will  be  thoroughly 
warmed  and  ventilated.  It  will  contain  convenient  rooms 
for  readers,  for  the  consultation  of  books,  for  the  circulating 
department,  for  the  main  collection,  for  the  reception,  un- 
packing and  preparation  for  the  shelves  of  the  books  from 
time  to  time  received,  and  for  the  various  other  miscella- 
neous purposes  of  a  first-class  public  library.  The  addition 
liberally  made  to  the  original  lot  upon  Boylston  street,  by 
the  purchase  of  the  intervening  piece  of  ground  on  Van  Ren- 
salaer  place,  besides  the  great  advantage  of  access  in  the 
rear,  will  afford  an  opportunity  for  large  future  addition  to 
the  building,  should  such  addition  become  necessary.  The 
front  view,  on  the  Common,  is  unsurpassed  for  air,  prospect 
and  beauty,  and  can  never  be  obstructed.  In  a  word,  the 
Trustees  feel  confident  that  the  building,  when  completed, 
though  without  any  pretensions  to  ostentatious  magnificence, 
which  were  wisely  avoided,  will  be  found  to  compare  favor- 
ably with  any  public  building  in  the  world,  of  its  size  and 
kind,  for  position,  convenience,  and  adaptation  to  the  pur- 
poses for  which  it  was  designed.  It  will  be  regarded,  they 


148  APPENDIX. 

doubt  not,  both  by  the  present  generation  and  in  after  times, 
as  a  noble  monument  to  the  liberality  of  the  City  Govern- 
ment, which  has  furnished  the  means  for  its  erection." 

On  the  third  of  December,  the  Commissioners  submitted 
their  third  report  to  the  City  Council,  being  City  Document 
No.  59. 

The  delays  necessarily  arising  out  of  the  purchase  by 
the  City  of  the  additional  land  in  the  rear,  having  conspired, 
with  other  causes,  to  prevent  the  building  from  being  roofed 
as  early  as  had  been  anticipated  and  agreed  upon,  on  the 
twenty-second  of  the  same  month,  by  order  of  the  Commis- 
sioners, the  Architect  proceeded  "  to  construct  a  temporary 
roof  over  the  building,  without  delay." 

On  the  seventeenth  of  January,  1856,  the  annual  election 
of  Commissioners  from  the  City  Council  was  made,  and  PEL- 
HAM  BONNEY,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  and 
Messrs.  JOSEPH  A.  POND  and  JOSEPH  BUCKLEY  of  the  Com- 
mon Council,  were  chosen. 

Active  preparations  were  now  made  for  the  interior  finish 
of  the  building.  Plans,  specifications  and  models  were  exe- 
cuted. In  order  finally  to  determine  the  question  whether 
the  shelves  should  be  fixed  or  movable,  on  the  second  of 
April,  it  was 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Trustees  be  requested  to  furnish  this  Board 
with  their  opinion  in  regard  to  movable  shelves. 

The  President  was  then  "  instructed  to  request  a  sufficient 
number  of  experts  to  furnish  him  with  their  opinions  in 
regard  to  movable  shelves,  together  with  the  reasons  on 
which  their  opinions  are  based."  Letters  were  accordingly 
addressed  to  J.  G.  Cogswell,  of  the  Astor  Library,  New 
York;  J.  MacMullen,  of  the  New  York  Society  Library; 
C.  Folsom,  of  the  Boston  Athenaeum;  J.  S.  Meyer,  of  the 
Congress  Library,  Washington;  G.  H.  Moore,  Librarian  of 


HISTORICAL  FACTS.  149 

the  New  York  Historical  Society;  W.  F.  Poole,  Librarian 
of  the  Boston  Mercantile  Library  Association ;  J.  L.  Sibley, 
Librarian  of  Harvard  College;  S.  B.  Woolworth,  of  the 
New  York  State  Library.  Replies  from  these  gentlemen 
having  been  received,  the  following  opinion  of  the  Trustees 
was  read :  — 

PUBLIC  LIBRARY  OF  THE  CITY  OF  BOSTON. 

In  Board  of  Trustees,  April  15,  1856. 

Resolved,  —  That,  in  the  opinion  of  this  Board,  it  is  expedient  that, 
in  the  new  library  building,  the  shelves  above  the  counters  should  be 
fixed,  and  those  below  the  same  be  so  adjusted  as  to  be  movable. 

It  was  thereupon  voted,  by  the  Commissioners,  "  that  the 
recommendation  of  the  Trustees  be  adopted." 

On  the  twenty-third  of  April,  in  consequence  of  the  in- 
creased space  in  the  rear,  it  was 

Ordered,  —  That  the  towers  of  the  building  be  extended  two  and  a 
half  feet  beyond  the  line  agreed  upon  in  the  contract. 

On  the  twenty-second  of  May,  a  letter  was  received  by 
his  Honor,  ALEXANDER  H.  RICE,  the  mayor,  from  GEORGE 
TICKNOR,  Esq.,  resigning  his  place  in  the  commission,  on 
account  of  "  arrangements  for  an  absence  from  the  United 
States."  The  City  Council  proceeded  to  fill  the  vacancy 
thus  created,  and  Hon.  EDWARD  EVERETT,  LL.D.,  was  elected. 

In  parting  from  their  associate,  the  Board  adopted  the 
following  resolution :  "  that  the  Commissioners  have  learned 
with  sincere  regret,  that  the  proposed  absence  of  Mr.  Tick- 
nor  from  the  country  has  induced  him  to  resign  his  seat  at 
this  Board,  and  they  desire  to  express  to  him  their  deep 
sense  of  his  faithful  and  valuable  services  during  his  con- 
nection with  them,  since  the  organization  of  this  Board,  and 
their  cordial  wishes  for  his  prosperity  and  welfare." 


150  APPENDIX. 

The  plans  and  specifications  for  the  interior  finish  having 
been  carefully  prepared  and  approved,  a  public  notice  was 
issued,  inviting  proposals  for  furnishing  the  materials  and 
performing  the  work  for  the  interior  construction  of  the 
building. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  July,  contracts  were  entered  into 
and  signed  by  the  Commissioners,  in  the  presence  of  his 
Honor  the  Mayor,  with  MORRISON  &  SHAW,  carpenters; 
DENIO  &  EOBEETS,  blacksmiths;  A.  WENTWORTH  &  Co., 
marble  workers;  PHILIP  &  THOMAS  KELLEY,  plaster  and 
stucco  workers;  Lucius  NEWELL,  painter  and  glazier;  and 
STRATER  &  BUCKLEY,  plumbers. 

The  fourth  report  of  the  Commissioners  informed  the 
City  Council  of  the  progress  of  the  building  and  of  the 
plans  for  the  interior  finish.  "  A  public  notice  for  proposals 
for  furnishing  materials  and  executing  this  part  of  the  work 
was  issued  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  April  last,  agreeably 
to  which,  twenty-eight  separate  proposals  were  received, 
opened  and  examined  by  the  Commissioners,  on  the  twen- 
tieth day  of  May.  On  a  careful  examination  of  these  pro- 
posals the  Board  have  come  to  the  conclusion,  after  frequent 
comparison  and  much  consideration,  that  a  sum  of  not  less 
than  sixty  thousand  dollars  will  be  necessary  for  the  com- 
pletion of  the  outside  and  inside  of  the  library  building. 

"  The  Commissioners  have  not  included  in  this  estimate 
the  cost  of  the  furniture  and  book-cases,  nor  of  the  fences 
which  may  be  required  in  front  and  in  the  rear  of  the 
library  lot." 

Upon  the  reception  of  this  report,  the  following  order 
was  passed:  — 

CITY  OF  BOSTON  :  In  Common  Council,  June  5,  1856. 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Treasurer  be,  and  he  hereby  is,  authorized  to 

borrow  ...  a  sum  of  money  not  exceeding  sixty  thousand  dollars,  and 

that  the  same  be  appropriated  to  meet,  in  part,  the  cost  of  the  erection 


HISTORICAL   FACTS.  151 

of  the  Public  Library  building,  in  conformity  with  the  report  of  the 
Commissioners,  dated  the  third  instant. 

Passed;  yeas  33,  nays  none.     Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

OLIVER   STEVENS,  President. 

In  Board  of  Aldermen,  June  9,  1856.     Concurred ;  yeas  10,  nay  1. 

PELHAM  BONNET,  Chairman. 

Approved  June  13,  1856. 

ALEX.  H.  RICE,  Mayor. 

In  July,  the  City  Government  purchased  some  additional 
land,  in  consequence  of  the  following  message  from  Mayor 
RICE. 

MAYOR'S  OFFICE,  BOSTON,  JULY  14,  1856. 
To  the  City  Council. 

GENTLEMEN,  —  I  have  the  honor  to  communicate  the  fact,  that  an 
opportunity  is  now  offered,  in  which  the  City  may  purchase  a  small  strip 
of  land  adjoining  the  estate  of  the  Public  Library,  and  belonging  to 
J.  H.  Wolcott,  Esq.  .  .  It  is  desirable  for  the  purpose  of  securing 
light  and  air  for  the  library  building,  as  well  as  to  secure  the  premises 
against  the  erection  of  objectionable  buildings  in  the  future,  that  this 
land  should  be  purchased  by  the  City. 

I  am  authorized  to  state  that  Mr.  Wolcott  will  sell  the  land  to  the 
City,  for  the  purpose  intimated,  at  the  same  price  which  was  paid  for 
corresponding  land  on  which  the  library  building  now  stands.  Regard- 
ing this  measure  as  intimately  connected  with  the  convenience  and 
ornament  of  this  valuable  institution,  I  cordially  recommend  the  pro- 
posed purchase  to  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  City  Council. 

Very  respectfully, 

ALEX.  H.  RICE,  Mayor. 

After  the  reading  of  the  message,  it  was 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  be  authorized 
and  instructed  to  purchase  a  strip  of  land  adjoining  the  Public  Library 
lot,  .  .  provided  the  same  can  be  purchased  on  terms  as  favorable  as 
those  upon  which  the  adjoining  knds  were  purchased  by  the  City. 


152  APPENDIX. 

This  Committee  subsequently  reported,  through  their 
Chairman,  Alderman  JOHN  T.  DINGLEY,  that  they  had  effected 
the  purchase  of  the  land. 

The  fifth  report  of  the  Commissioners  was  received  by 
the  City  Council  on  the  fourth  of  December.  It  states  that 
"  the  progress  of  the  building  has  been  all  that  could  rea- 
sonably have  been  expected.  The  exterior  has  been  finished 
and  the  stagings  removed,  and  the  various  contractors  are 
proceeding  with  the  interior  as  rapidly  as  the  character  of 
the  work  will  allow. 

"  The  Commissioners  cannot  conclude  their  report  with- 
out gratefully  acknowledging  the  wise  forethought  of  the 
City  Council  in  purchasing  the  vacant  strip  of  land  on  the 
westerly  side  of  the  library  building.  This  piece  of  land 
has  now  been  added  to  the  library  lot,  and  the  walls  en- 
closing it  are  nearly  completed.  It  will  add  materially  to 
the  light  and  ventilation  of  the  edifice,  and  nothing  further 
seems  to  be  required  to  secure  for  the  institution  the  whole 
advantages  of  the  site  selected  for  it." 

Upon  the  application  of  the  Trustees,  on  the  seventeenth 
of  the  same  month,  it  was  voted  by  the  Commissioners, 
"that  the  room  in  the  basement  under  the  large  reading 
room,  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Trustees  for  the 
temporary  deposit  of  cases  of  books." 

On  the  nineteenth  of  January,  1857,  the  annual  election 
of  persons  to  represent  the  City  Council  in  the  Commission, 
was  held,  and  Alderman  PELHAM  BONNET  and  Messrs.  JOSEPH 
A.  POND  and  WILLIAM  PAEKMAN,  members  of  the  Common 
Council,  were  chosen. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  April,  the  Board  submitted  its 
sixth  report,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract :  — 

"  The  undersigned  are  now  ready  to  contract  for  the 
shelving  of  the  Library,  having  received  and  examined  pro- 
posals  therefor,  and  they  have  reason  to  fear  that  any  fur- 
ther delay  in  executing  this  part  of  their  commission  may 


HISTORICAL  FACTS.  153 

postpone  the  completion  of  the  building  beyond  the  time 
heretofore  contemplated  for  that  purpose.  .  .  With  a  view 
to  covering  this  item  of  outlay,  and  also  of  providing  for 
the  cost  of  the  fences,  and  any  contingencies  which  may  occur 
in  finishing  so  extensive  an  edifice,  the  undersigned  request 
an  appropriation  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  for  the  further 
prosecution  of  the  trust  committed  to  them." 

The  appropriation  having  been  granted,  on  the  twentieth 
of  May,  in  presence  of  his  Honor  the  Mayor,  the  Commis- 
sioners signed  a  contract  with  MORRISON  &  SHAW,  for  the 
shelves  for  the  circulating  library  room  and  for  the  lower 
range  of  alcoves  in  the  main  hall.  At  the  same  time,  a  con- 
tract was  made  with  WILLIAM  SCHUTZ,  artist,  for  painting 
and  ornamenting  the  walls  and  ceilings  of  the  large  hall,  the 
vestibule,  the  reading  rooms  and  the  conversation  room. 

Contracts  were  also  made  with  BALDWIN  &  EMERSON, 
for  constructing  a  sidewalk,  and  with  EDWARD  F.  MEANT, 
for  sandstone  for  the  fence  in  front  of  the  building;  also, 
with  MORRISON  &  SHAW,  for  the  erection  of  stagings  for 
the  use  of  the  decorators. 

The  rooms  in  the  west  tower  having  been  completed,  on 
the  twenty-fourth  of  June,  the  Commissioners  assembled  and 
held  the  first  meeting  in  the  new  building,  which,  thereafter, 
became  their  regular  place  of  meeting. 

The  seventh  communication  of  the  Board  to  the  City 
Council,  was  as  follows:  — 

"  The  undersigned  .  .  have  had  a  careful  estimate  pre- 
pared of  the  payments  still  to  be  made,  under  contracts 
already  existing,  and  of  such  additional  payments  as  will  be 
required  in  finishing  and  furnishing  the  building.  In  con- 
formity with  this  estimate  .  .  they  ask  a  final  appropriation 
of  the  sum  of  sixty  thousand  dollars,  to  enable  them  to  meet 
the  liabilities  mentioned. 

"  The  authorized  transfer,  by  the  Auditor,  of  eleven  thou- 
sand and  eight  hundred  dollars  from  the  amount  heretofore 
20 


154  APPENDIX. 

appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  Commissioners,  and  its 
expenditure  in  purchasing  an  addition  to  the  Library  lot, 
has  increased,  by  that  amount,  the  appropriation  now  re- 
quired. The  same  proceeding  has  exhausted  the  means  at 
their  disposal  at  an  earlier  period  than  had  been  antici- 
pated." 

This  application  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Fi- 
nance, and,  upon  their  recommendation,  the  appropriation 
was  made  by  the  City  Council. 

On  the  fourth  of  November,  occurred  the  only  casualty 
connected  with  the  erection  of  the  entire  structure.  About 
one  o'clock,  a  man  named  Thomas  Rowan,  who  was  engaged 
in  painting  on  the  outside  of  the  building,  sitting  upon  a 
scaffold  which  projected  from  one  of  the  towers  in  the  rear, 
missed  his  hold  and  fell,  a  distance  of  about  sixty  feet,  to 
the  ground.  In  his  fall,  he  struck  an  iron  door  and  was 
instantly  killed.  Contributions  in  aid  of  his  family  were 
made  by  the  Commissioners,  members  of  the  City  Govern- 
ment and  others. 

On  the  tenth  of  November,  the  fifth  annual  report  of  the 
Trustees  was  received.  They  remark,  "All  the  operations 
of  the  Library  during  the  year,  as  in  former  years,  have 
been  carried  on  to  the  same  disadvantage  that  has  been  men- 
tioned in  former  reports  of  the  Board,  in  consequence  of 
the  limited  extent  of  the  premises  in  Mason  street.  These 
disadvantages  will  all  speedily  cease,  by  the  completion  of 
the  spacious  new  building  in  Boylston  street,  although  some 
time  will  be  required  after  the  surrender  of  the  building 
by  the  Commissioners,  before  the  books  can  be  placed 
upon  the  shelves,  and  a  catalogue  be  printed  which  shall 
be  adapted  to  the  new  locality,  and  without  which  the 
books  cannot  be  put  in  circulation.  The  Trustees  pro- 
pose, however,  while  most  of  this  unavoidable  labor  is 
going  on  in  the  new  building,  to  keep  open  the  Library 
in  Mason  street  as  usual,  closing  it  only  for  the  removal 


HISTORICAL   FACTS.  155 

of  the  books  contained  in  it,  and  for  the  shortest  time 
possible.'1 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  1858,  the  Commissioners 
assembled  at  the  Library  building  and,  after  authorizing  the 
President  to  deliver  up  the  keys  to  the  Mayor  of  the  City, 
they  proceeded  to  the  platform  erected  in  the  large  hall, 
when  the  ceremonies  of  dedication  took  place.  A  full  detail 
of  the  same  will  be  found  upon  the  preceding  pages. 

The  building  having  been  dedicated,  it  was  found  that, 
in  consequence  of  the  great  concourse  of  people  attending 
upon  the  ceremonies  and  visiting  it  upon  the  succeeding 
day,  various  parts  of  the  building  had  been  injured  to  a  con- 
siderable extent.  For  the  purpose  of  making  the  necessary 
repairs,  as  well  as  to  provide  the  furniture  required,  and  to 
adjust  all  claims  against  the  Board,  meetings  of  the  Com- 
missioners were  continued  at  stated  periods. 

On  the  fourth  of  February,  the  repairs  having  been  com- 
pleted, it  was 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Clerk  be  directed  to  notify  the  Trustees  of  the 
Library,  that  nothing  remains  to  be  done  that  can  interfere  with  the 
removal  of  the  books  at  as  early  a  day  as  they  deem  proper. 

Immediately  upon  receiving  this  notice,  the  Trustees  com- 
menced the  removal  of  the  volumes  presented  by  Mr.  Bates, 
from  the  house  in  Boylston  place. 

After  these  books,  which  number  about  twenty-five  thou- 
sand volumes,  and  are  valued  at  nearly  forty-five  thousand 
dollars,  had  been  placed  in  the  main  hall,  upon  the  invita- 
tion of  the  Trustees,  the  City  Council  visited  the  Library, 
for  the  purpose  of  examining  this  munificent  donation. 

The  books  stored  in  the  Quincy  school  house,  and  a  por- 
tion of  those  in  Mason  street,  were  next  removed  to  the 
new  building,  to  be  placed  upon  the  shelves  prepared  for 
them. 


156  APPENDIX. 

The  closing  meeting  of  the  Commissioners  was  held  on 
Tuesday,  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  April,  at  the  residence 
of  the  President,  No.  1  Pemberton  square. 

A  committee,  previously  appointed  for  the  purpose,  re- 
ported that  all  claims  against  the  Board,  arising  out  of  the 
erection  and  furnishing  of  the  library  building,  had  been 
adjusted  and  that  the  labors  of  the  Commission  might  now 
be  terminated. 

The  eighth  and  final  report  was  then  read  by  the  Presi- 
dent, and  the  same  was  adopted  and  ordered  to  be  signed 
by  the  Commissioners,  and  transmitted  to  the  City  Council 
by  the  Clerk  : 

To  the  Honorable,  the  City  Council:  — 

The  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  a  Building  for  the  Public 
Library  of  the  City  of  Boston,  have  the  honor  to  submit  their  final 
report :  — 

The  Commissioners  have  proceeded,  during  the  last  three  months, 
to  complete  such  arrangements,  in  regard  to  fixtures  and  furniture,  as 
were  necessarily  postponed  until  after  the  public  dedication  of  the 
library  building  on  the  first  day  of  January  last. 

The  building  itself  is  finished,  and  has  been,  for  some  time  past,  in 
the  exclusive  custody  of  the  Janitor  appointed  by  the  Trustees  of  the 
Library.  The  principal  articles  of  furniture  have  been  procured,  and 
are  already  in  the  places  for  which  they  were  designed.  The  contracts 
have  all  been  discharged,  and  every  bill  has  been  paid.  Under  these 
circumstances,  the  undersigned  are  of  opinion  that  the  Commission  may 
now  be  dissolved  without  detriment  to  the  public  interests. 

An  unexpended  balance  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  dollars 
and  six  cents,  of  the  original  appropriation  of  two  thousand  dollars, 
made  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  a  design  for  the  building  and  for  the 
incidental  expenses  connected  with  the  commencement  of  the  enterprise, 
has  been  handed  to  the  City  Auditor,  with  a  statement  of  the  account 
in  detail. 

Of  the  other  appropriations,  so  liberally  made  by  the  City  Govern- 
ment, for  the  prosecution  of  the  work,  no  part  has  ever  been  drawn  from 
the  treasury,  except  for  the  payment  of  bills  which  have  been  duly  exam- 


HISTORICAL  FACTS.  157 

ined  and  certified  at  the  time,  and  all  of  which  remain  on  the  files  of  the 
Auditor  of  Accounts,  and  are  copied  into  the  records  of  the  Com- 
mission. 

The  Board  have  already,  through  their  President,  expressed  an 
opinion  that  a  suitable  remuneration  might  well  be  made  by  the  City 
Council  to  the  faithful  officer  who  was  originally  assigned  as  clerk  to  the 
Commission.  The  testimony  to  his  services,  borne  publicly  at  the  late 
dedication  of  the  building,  is  too  recent  to  require  repetition  on  this 
occasion.  The  records  of  the  Commission,  containing  the  details  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty-two  meetings  of  the  Board,  will  be  delivered  up,  at 
an  early  day,  to  those  from  whom  he  received  his  appointment,  and  will 
furnish  the  best  evidence  of  his  attention  and  fidelity. 

The  undersigned  cannot  conclude  their  final  report,  without  a  grate- 
ful acknowledgment  of  the  confidence  with  which  they  have  been 
honored  by  the  City  Council  in  the  prosecution  of  the  work  committed 
to  them,  nor  without  a  renewed  expression  of  their  earnest  hope  that  the 
institution,  in  whose  service  they  have  been  engaged,  may  fulfil  the 
best  hopes  of  its  founders  and  friends. 

ROBERT  C.  WINTHKOP, 
SAMUEL  Gr.  WARD, 
NATHANIEL  B.  SHURTLEFF, 
PELHAM  BONNET, 
JOSEPH  A.  POND, 
WILLIAM  PARKMAN, 

Commissioners . 

The  absence  of  Mr.  Everett  at  the  South,  prevented  him 
from  signing  the  foregoing  report. 

The  following  resolution  was  then  offered  by  Mr.  Pond : 

Resolved,  —  By  the  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  a  building  for 
the  Public  Library,  that  this  Board  hereby  tender  to  their  President,  the 
Honorable  ROBERT  C.  WINTHROP,  the  cordial  expression  of  their  sense 
of  the  highly  satisfactory  manner  in  which  he  has  fulfilled  the  duties  of 
his  office ;  of  his  faithful  and  valuable  services  as  a  Commissioner ;  and 
their  sincere  wishes  for  his  prosperity  and  welfare. 


158  APPEND^. 

In  offering  the  resolution,  the  mover  briefly  alluded  to 
the  agreeable  relations  which  had  existed,  in  the  last  three 
years,  between  the  Commissioners,  and,  particularly,  to  the 
uniform  kindness  and  courtesy  which  had  marked  the  inter- 
course of  the  President  with  all  the  members  of  the  Board. 
He  desired,  before  dissolving  their  official  connection,  that 
the  clerk  should  be  directed  to  enter  upon  the  records,  a 
suitable  expression  of  the  sentiments  of  the  Board,  of  their 
affectionate  respect  for  the  President,  and  of  their  wishes 
for  his  prosperity  and  welfare,  both  in  public  and  private 
life. 

The  resolution  having  been  adopted,  the  President,  with 
evident  emotion,  returned  his  cordial  acknowledgments  to 
the  Board,  for  so  kind  an  expression  of  their  satisfaction 
with  the  discharge  of  the  duties  which  had  been  assigned  to 
him.  He  was  conscious,  he  said,  that  the  labors  of  others 
had  been  not  less  onerous  than  his  own,  and  he  desired  to 
offer  to  them  all,  his  own  best  thanks  for  the  fidelity  and  zeal 
with  which  they  had  cooperated  with  him  in  conducting  the 
Commission  to  a  successful  close.  It  was  among  the  most 
agreeable  circumstances  of  the  service  which  was  now  about 
to  terminate,  that  it  had  brought  him  into  fellowship  with  so 
many  intelligent  and  estimable  members  of  the  City  Council, 
who  had  served  successively  on  the  Board,  and  of  whom  the 
most  responsible  committees  had  so  often  been  composed. 
He  would  not  detain  them  with  any  ceremonious  remarks, 
but  begged  each  one  of  his  associates  to  accept  his  sincere 
wishes,  that  the  best  blessings  of  Heaven  might  attend  him 
in  all  his  relations  and  pursuits. 

The  following  resolution  was  offered  by  Mr.  Bonney  and 
adopted : 

Resolved,  —  That  the  thanks  of  the  Board  be  presented  to  Edward 
Capen,  Esq.,  for  his  acceptable  and  faithful  services  as  clerk  to  the 
Commission,  during  the  whole  period  of  its  existence. 


HISTORICAL   FACTS.  159 

The  clerk  was  directed  to  prepare  and  deliver  to  the 
City  Clerk  the  book  of  records  and  all  papers  belonging 
to  the  Board,  and  then  the  Commissioners  adjourned,  sine 
die. 

The  final  report  of  the  Commissioners  was  received  by 
the  City  Council  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  April,  and  was 
referred  to  the  Committee  on  the  Public  Library,  who 
subsequently  reported,  as  follows :  — 

CITY  OF  BOSTON  :  In  Common  Council,  May  13,  1858. 
The  Committee  on  the  Public  Library,  to  whom  was  referred  the 
final  report  of  the  Commissioners  on  the  erection  of  a  Building  for 
the  same,  would  respectfully  recommend,  that  the  report  be  accepted. 
As  a  slight  acknowledgment  of  the  zeal,  industry  and  ability  dis- 
played by  the  Commissioners,  in  the  discharge  of  the  duty  devolved 
upon  them,  the  Committee  would  further  recommend  the  passage  of 
the  accompanying  resolution. 

For  the  Committee, 

SAMUEL  HATCH,  Chairman. 

Resolved,  —  That  the  thanks  of  the  City  Council  be,  and  they 
are  hereby,  presented  to  the  gentlemen  who  have  served  as  Commis- 
sioners on  the  erection  of  the  Public  Library  Building,  for  the  highly 
acceptable  and  successful  manner  in  which  they  have  fulfilled  the 
trust  committed  to  them ;  and  also,  for  the  very  valuable  and  dis- 
tinguished services  which  they  have  gratuitously  rendered  in  aid  of  an 
institution,  which  is  an  enduring  monument  of  the  enlightened  liberality 
of  our  citizens  in  the  cause  of  literature  and  free  popular  education,  in 
the  advantages  of  which,  every  class  of  the  community  may  freely  par- 
ticipate. 

Passed  unanimously  :  sent  up  for  concurrence. 

SAMUEL  W.  WALDRON,  JR.,  President. 

In  Board  of  Aldermen,  May  17,  1858.     Read  and  concurred. 

JOSEPH  M.  WIGHTMAN,   Chairman. 
Approved,  May  18,  1858. 

FREDERIC  "W.  LINCOLN,  JR.,  Mayor. 


160  APPENDIX. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  held  on  the 
seventeenth  day  of  May,  his  Honor  Mayor  Lincoln  pre- 
siding, Alderman  "Wightman  submitted  an  order,  which  was 
adopted,  instructing  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  "  to 
place  in  one  of  the  recesses  prepared  for  such  purposes  in 
the  vestibule  of  the  Public  Library  Building,  a  suitable 
tablet  of  stone  or  bronze,  bearing  "  an  inscription  of  -the 
date  of  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone,  and  of  the  dedication 
of  the  building,  together  with  the  names  of  the  Commis- 
sioners on  the  erection  of  the  Library  Building,  of  the 
Architect,  etc.  This  order,  on  motion  of  Hon.  NEWELL  A. 
THOMPSON,  was  referred,  by  the  Common  Council,  to  the 
Committee  on  the  Public  Library,  who  were  authorized  to 
report  a  suitable  inscription  for  the  proposed  tablet.  In 
this  reference,  the  Board  of  Aldermen  subsequently  con- 
curred. 

THE  LIBRARY  ESTATE. 

The  land,  upon  which  sthe  Public  Library  Building  has 
been  erected,  was  purchased  in  four  parcels.  In  the  year 
1853,  the  City  Council  bought  a  lot  of  land  of  Robert  E. 
Apthorp,  and,  also,  the  adjoining  estate,  belonging  to  the 
heirs  of  Benjamin  Wheeler.  Additional  land  in  the  rear 
and  upon  the  westerly  side,  was  subsequently  purchased, 
in  order  to  aiford  an  enlarged  space  in  front  of  the  building, 
and  to  secure  increased  facilities  for  the  admission  of  light 
and  air. 

The  first  lot  was  purchased  of  Mr.  Apthorp,  and  was 
bounded  as  follows :  by  a  line  running  easterly  on  Boylston 
street,  twenty-four  feet  and  eight  inches;  thence  running  south- 
erly, along  house  numbered  thirty-seven,  one  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  feet  and  two  inches ;  thence  westerly,  ninety-one 
feet  and  two  inches;  thence  northerly,  on  the  Wheeler  estate, 
one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  feet.  This  lot  contained  three 


THE   LIBRARY   ESTATE.  161 

thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety  and  one  half  feet,  and  cost 
twenty-two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty-three  dollars. 
The  deed  of  the  same  to  the  City  of  Boston  is  dated 
12  October,  1853,  and  is  recorded  with  Suffolk  County 
Deeds,  Lib.  653,  Fol.  101. 

The  second  purchase  comprised  what  was  commonly 
known  as  the  "  "Wheeler  estate."  It  was  bounded  northerly 
on  Boylston  street,  seventy  feet ;  easterly  on  the  land  pur- 
chased of  Apthorp,  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  feet ;  south- 
erly on  land  since  purchased  of  Apthorp,  seventy  feet ;  and 
westerly  on  land  since  purchased  of  J.  H.  Wolcott,  one 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  feet.  The  cost  of  this  land  was  fifty 
thousand  dollars.  The  deeds  of  the  heirs,  William  B.  Fos- 
dick,  Alice  S.  Wheeler,  George  P.  and  Mary  Blake,  and 
George  P.  Wheeler,  to  the  City  of  Boston,  bearing  date 
3  November,  1853,  are  entered  with  Suffolk  Deeds,  Lib.  654, 
Fols.  123,  124,  125. 

The  third  lot  was  situated  on  Yan  Rensselaer  place,  in 
the  rear  of  the  two  lots  above  described,  and  was  purchased 
of  Harrison  0.  Apthorp,  of  Northampton,  and  Robert  E.  Ap- 
thorp, of  Boston.  It  contained  seven  thousand  six  hundred 
and  sixty-two  and  one  half  square  feet.  Its  boundaries  are 
given  as  follows,  viz  :  "  Beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  City  Library  lot,  running  easterly  and% bounded  northerly, 
in  the  rear,  one  hundred  and  one  feet  and  three  inches,  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  said  lot;  thence  turning  and  running 
southerly  and  bounded  easterly  by  land  of  Apthorp,  seventy- 
eight  feet  and  three  inches,  to  a  point  on  Yan  Rensselaer  place, 
distant  from  Tremont  street  one .  hundred  and  fourteen  feet  ; 
thence  turning  and  running  westerly  and  bounded  southerly 
by  Yan  Rensselaer  place,  ninety-nine  feet  and  two  inches,  to 
land  of  J.  H.  Wolcott;  thence  turning  and  running  north- 
erly and  bounded  westerly  by  land  of  Wolcott,  seventy-four 
feet  and  eight  inches.  The  amount  paid  for  this  land  was 
twenty-two  thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighty-seven  dollars 
21 


162  APPENDIX. 

and  fifty  cents.  The  deed,  which  bears  date  24  July,  1855, 
is  recorded  with  Suffolk  Deeds,  Lib.  684,  Fol.  195. 

The  land  last  purchased  contained  two  thousand  three 
hundred  and  forty-one  and  three  fourths  feet.  It  was  bought  on 
the  eighth  of  October,  1856,  of  J.  Huntington  Wolcott,  for 
the  sum  of  eleven  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-six 
dollars  and  fifty  cents.  It  is  described  as  "  situated  upon 
the  southerly  side  of  Boylston  street  and  bounded  northerly, 
twelve  feet  and  seven  and  one  half  inches  ;  westerly  on  land  of 
Wolcott,  two  hundred  and  eleven  feet  and  Jive  and  three  fourths 
inches;  southerly  oh  Van  Eensselaer  place*  nine  feet  and  six 
inches ;  easterly  on  land  of  the  City  of  Boston,  two  hundred 
and  twelve  feet"  The  deed  is  recorded  in  Suffolk  Registry 
of  Deeds,  Lib.  707,  Fol.  299. 

The  old  buildings  upon  the  lots  on  Boylston  street  were 
sold  at  public  auction  by  SAMUEL  HATCH,  Esq.,  on  the  thirty- 
first  of  May,  1855.  Those  upon  the  rear  lot  were  sold  by 
the  same  auctioneer,  on  the  seventh  of  April,  1856.  The 
trees,  shrubs,  loam,  etc.,  were  removed  under  the  direction 
of  the  Superintendent  of  the  Common  and  Public  Squares. 

With  the  premises  purchased,  the  City  acquired  no  right 
or  means  of  draining  into  the  common  sewer,  and  the 
temporary  occupants  of  the  old  stable  on  the  rear  lot 
being  unwilling  to  grant  any  privileges,  the  Commissioners 
were  obliged  to  pay  damages,  according  to  the  following 
award :  — 

BOSTON,  NOVEMBER  1,  1855.  The  subscriber  finds  that  the  Com- 
missioners should  pay  to  Messrs.  Healy  &  Spaulding  the  sum  of  three 
hundred  dollars,  for  the  privilege  of  draining  over  the  estate  now  occu- 
pied by  them  for  a  stable. 

G.  M.  DEXTER,  Referee. 

The  entire  lot  measures,  on  Boylston  street,  one  hundred 
and  seven  feet  and  three  and  three  fifths  inches  ;  on  Van  Rensse- 
laer  place,  one  hundred  and  eight  feet  and  eight  inches  ;  on  the 


DESCRIPTION    OF   THE   BUILDING.  163 

easterly  side,  two  hundred  and  fifteen  feet  and  six  and  seven 
eighths  inches ;  on  the  westerly  side,  two  hundred  and  eleven 
feet  and  three  fifths  of  an  inch. 


DESCRIPTION  OF   THE  BUILDING. 
EXTERIOR. 

The  building  is  rectangular,  being  eighty-two  feet  wide,  and 
one  hundred  and  sixteen  feet  long,  exclusive  of  the  towers  at 
the  rear  corners,  which  are  fourteen  feet  and  six  inches  in 
length,  and  eighteen  feet  in  width.  The  architecture  is  of  the 
Roman  Italian  style.  The  foundation,  upon  which  the  walls 
rest,  is  composed  of  blocks  of  granite,  about  four  feet  in 
length,  set  and  bedded  in  hydraulic  cement.  Upon  these  is 
laid  a  base  course  of  hammered  granite,  above  which  the 
exterior  walls,  excepting  the  front,  are  plain,  being  con- 
structed of  the  best  quality  of  faced  bricks,  with  dressings 
of  Connecticut  sandstone.  The  front  of  the  basement  is 
constructed  of  the  best  quality  of  Rockport  granite,  finely 
hammered.  Two  stories  in  height  are  seen  from  the  front. 
In  the  first  story  in  front  are  four  windows,  with  a  door  in 
the  centre.  The  windows  are  circular-headed,  capped  with 
ornamental  archivolts,  supported  on  carved  scroll  brackets, 
and  crowned  with  treble  keystones.  The  doorway  is  also 
circular-headed,  and  its  style  ornate,  having  deeply  moulded 
and  carved  jambs,  with  a  carved  and  vermiculated  archi- 
trave, and  with  projecting  canopies  or  hoods,  supported 
on  brackets  and  crowned  with  keystones,  all  of  which  are 
ornately  carved. 

In  the  second  story  of  the  front  are  three  large  windows 
and  two  conspicuous  niches.  The  niches  are  constructed  of 
freestone,  with  heavy,  projecting  bases  carved  in  foliage  and 
finished  with  ornamented  architraves.  Between  the  first  and 
second  stories  are  a  rustic  belt  and  a  heavy,  projecting  bal- 


164  APPENDIX. 

cony,  enclosing  the  front  windows  of  the  main  hall,  and  sup- 
ported upon  carved  scroll  brackets.  The  corners  or  angles 
of  the  building  are  finished  with  heavy  rustic  work,  the 
whole  being  surmounted  with  a  rich  Corinthian  cornice. 

The  roof  is  constructed  of  iron,  covered  with  copper. 
The  lantern,  by  which  the  main  hall  is  chiefly  lighted,  occu- 
pies the  centre  of  the  roof,  and  is  forty  feet  wide,  ninety  feet 
long,  and  ten  feet  high.  It  is  built  of  bricks  and  freestone, 
with  a  roof  of  iron,  covered  with  copper. 

The  building  is  entirely  fireproof.  It  is  thoroughly  ven- 
tilated through  the  vaultings  of  the  walls,  by  openings  at 
the  bottom  and  top  of  each  of  the  rooms.  ' 

The  corner-stone  is  a  massive  hammered  ashler  of  Con- 
necticut sandstone,  weighing  five  tons,  and  is  securely  laid  at 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  foundation.  In  the  lower  face 
of  the  stone,  within  a  cavity,  is  a  box  containing  a  silver 
plate,  suitably  inscribed,  various  city  documents,  coins, 
medals,  photographs,  etc.  There  is,  also,  in  the  same  cavity, 
a  leaden  box  containing  a  copy  of  each  of  the  weekly  and 
daily  newspapers  published  in  the  city,  seventy  in  number. 

The  front  of  the  building  recedes  fifteen  feet  from  the 
line  of  Boylston  street,  the  intervening  space  being  enclosed 
by  a  massive  fence  of  Italian  style,  constructed  of  freestone 
and  iron.  On  either  side  is  a  space  for  light  and  air,  and  in 
the  rear  is  a  large  area,  which  has  been  filled,  graded  and 
prepared  for  flowering  plants,  ornamental  shrubs,  etc.  These 
grounds  are  protected  by  an  iron  fence  resting  upon  a  gran- 
ite base. 

From  the  top  of  the  building  a  magnificent  panoramic 
view  can  be  obtained,  embracing  the  whole  of  the  city,  the 
harbor,  and  the  surrounding  cities  and  towns. 

INTERIOR— THE  BASEMENT. 

The  basement,  which  is  light  and  airy,  is  almost  entirely 
below  the  *grade  of  Boylston  street.  It  is  eleven  feet  high, 


•  o  •  e     *        o  • 

•  •  •  •     f        •  • 


BASEMENT. 


FIRST   STORY 


DESCRIPTION    OF   THE   BUILDING.  165 

in  the  clear,  to  the  spring  of  the  groined  arches,  and  con- 
tains six  large  and  convenient  rooms,  which  will  be  used 
for  unpacking  and  storing  books  and  newspapers,  and  for 
other  conveniences  of  the  library.  The  furnaces  for  warm- 
ing the  apartments  and  the  rooms  for  fuel  are  also  in  this 
portion  of  the  building.  The  basement  is  approached  from 
Van  Rensselaer  place,  by  doors  in  the  towers.  There  is 
also  an  entrance  on  the  easterly  side  of  the  building. 

FIRST   STORY. 

The  first  story  is  twenty-one  feet  and  six  inches  high.  The 
floor  is  constructed  with  groined  arches.  This  story  con- 
tains five  apartments,  separated  by  brick  partitions.  They 
are  designated  as  follows: — vestibule,  general  reading  room, 
special  reading  room  for  ladies,  room  for  conversation  and 
the  delivery  of  books,  and  room  for  the  circulating  library. 
A  spacious  entrance,  through  three  sets  of  richly  carved 
doors,  leads  to  the  vestibule,  which  occupies  the  central 
portion  of  the  front  part  of  the  building,  and  is  twenty-two 
feet  wide,  forty-four  feet  deep,  and  twenty-two  feet  high.  It  con- 
tains the  main  staircase,  which  commences  with  two  flights, 
each  six  feet  wide,  both  leading  to  a  platform  at  an  ele- 
vation of  ten  feet,  from  which  a  single  flight,  ten  feet  wide, 
ascends  to  the  main  hall.  In  the  original  design  of  the 
Architect,  which  was  altered  by  the  Commissioners,  the 
grand  hall  was  directly  accessible  from  the  vestibule  by 
slightly  winding  staircases,  and  the  view  from  the  entrance 
door  to  the  main  ceiling  was  unbroken. 

The  staircase  is  constructed  of  iron,  laid  on  brick  arches 
and  bedded  in  cement,  in  order  to  prevent  the  noise  usually 
made  in  passing  over  iron  stairs.  The  flooring  of  the  vesti- 
bule is  of  encaustic  tiles.  The  walls,  to  the  height  of  the 
platform  above  mentioned,  are  plainly  finished  in  block- 
work,  and  thence  to  the  ceiling  with  Corinthian  pilasters  in 
scagliola  and  arched  panels,  formed  with  archivolts,  sup- 


166  APPENDIX. 

ported  upon  pilasters  and  imposts,  the  whole  being  crowned 
with  a  full,  rich  Corinthian  cornice  and  entablature,  support- 
ing an  ornate  ceiling,  laid  off  in  square  panels,  deeply  sunk, 
relieved  with  heavily  carved  mouldings,  pendent  drops,  etc. 

The  vestibule  is  lighted,  in  the  evening,  by  two  lanterns, 
with  carved  rosewood  columns,  standing  upon  newel  posts 
of  Italian  marble. 

The  room  for  the  delivery  of  books,  which  is  also  the 
conversation  room,  is  entered  from  the  vestibule,  and  occu- 
pies the  central  portion  of  the  east  side  of  the  building.  It 
is  thirty-four  feet  wide,  Jiftij  feet  deep,  and  twelve  feet  high. 
This  room  forms  a  kind  of  inner  vestibule,  with  delivery 
counters  for  the  circulating  library,  and  entrances  to  the 
general  and  ladies'  reading  rooms.  It  is  finished  in  a  plain 
manner.  The  floors  and  bases  are  marble,  and  the  walls 
and  ceiling  are  laid  off  in  panel  work. 

The  special  reading  room,  for  ladies,  occupies  the  north- 
east front  corner  of  the  building,  and  is  twenty-seven  feet  wide, 
forty-four  feet  deep,  and  twenty-one  feet  and  six  inches  high.  It 
is  intended  to  accommodate  one  hundred  readers,  having  six 
circular  tables,  for  books  and  papers,  surrounding  the  elabo- 
rately ornamented  iron  columns  which  support  the  ceiling. 
The  walls  and  ceiling  are  tastefully  laid  off  in  panel  work, 
exquisitely  tinted  and  gilded.  The  arrangements  for  lighting 
this  room,  as  well  as  all  the  other  rooms,  are  complete  and 
ample. 

The  general  reading  room  is  in  the  northwest  corner  of 
the  building.  It  is  twenty-eight  feet  wide,  seventy-eight  feet 
long,  and  twenty-one  feet  and  six  inches  high.  It  is  finished 
and  furnished  in  a  style  similar  to  the  special  reading 
room,  having  every  needful  accommodation,  with  water 
closet,  etc.  It  will  accommodate  two  hundred  readers. 

Almost  all  the  walls,  ceilings  and  finish  throughout  the 
building  have  been  neatly  tinted  in  encaustic  colors,  relieved 
with  gold. 


PRINCIPAL    FLOOR 


DESCRIPTION    OF   THE   BUILDING.  167 

The  room  for  the  circulating  library  occupies  the  remain- 
der of  the  first  floor,  being  upon  the  south  end  of  the  build- 
ing. It  is  seventy-eight  feet  long,  and  thirty-four  feet  wide.  It 
has  shelves  for  forty  thousand  volumes,  and  will  contain  the 
books  most  frequently  demanded  for  home  use.  It  is  plainly 
finished,  with  iron  balconies  and  circular  stairs,  and  is  con- 
nected with  the  basement  and  upper  parts  of  the  building 
by  an  iron  staircase  in  the  east  tower,  and  with  the  main 
hall  by  circular  iron  stairs.  It  may  also  be  put  in  commu- 
nication with  the  main  hall  by  means  of  the  dumb-waiters, 
which  connect  the  rooms  on  all  the  floors. 

INTERMEDIATE    STORY. 

Beneath  the  principal  story,  and  immediately  over  the 
delivery  room,  is  an  entresol,  or  half  story,  nine  feet  high,  in 
the  clear,  and  thirty-four  feet  square.  It  contains  a  work 
room,  store  rooms,  etc.,  and  is  entered  from  the  balconies  of 
the  circulating  library  room.  A  flight  of  circular  stairs  also 
connects  it  with  the  main  hall  above. 

PRINCIPAL   STORY. 

The  principal  floor,  and  the  floors  of  the  alcoves  in  the 
large  hall,  as  well  as  the  basement  floor,  are  constructed 
with  iron  girders  and  beams,  with  segmental  brick  arches 
turned  between  the  beams. 

The  entire  upper  story  is  occupied  by  the  large  hall  for 
the  reference  library.  This  hall  is  finished  in  the  Roman 
Corinthian  ornate  style.  It  has  a  clear  space  of  thirty-eight 
feet  wide,  ninety-two  feet  long,  and  fifty-eight  feet  high.  This 
space  is  surrounded  by  three  tiers  of  alcoves,  thirty  of 
which  are  arranged  on  each  side.  Each  alcove  is  nine  feet 
wide,  fourteen  feet  deep,  and  twelve  feet  high,  in  the  clear. 
On  both  ends  of  the  hall  are  two  corridors,  to  correspond 
in  height  with  the  alcoves. 


168  APPENDIX. 

The  partitions  between  the  alcoves  are  faced  with  three 
quarters  diameter,  full,  enriched  Corinthian  columns,  stand- 
ing upon  pedestals  of  the  finest  Italian  marble,  highly  pol- 
ished. The  columns,  capitals,  bases  and  pedestals,  occupy 
nearly  the  height  of  the  three  stories  of  alcoves  and  support 
semi-circular  arches,  with  rich  archivolts,  keystones,  etc. 
These,  in  turn,  support  a  full,  rich  Corinthian  cornice,  with- 
out an  architrave,  whereon  rests  the  lantern.  The  lantern 
is  finished  with  coved  angles,  having  perpendicular,  circular- 
headed  windows,  with  arches  intersecting  the  coved  angles 
and  separated  by  heavy  ribs,  supporting  a  deeply  sunk  dia- 
mond-panel ceiling,  relieved  with  richly  carved  mouldings, 
pendent  drops,  etc. 

The  floor  of  the  clear  space  is  of  marble,  and  that  of 
the  alcoves  is  of  the  best  southern  pine,  bedded  in  cement, 
on  brick  arches.  The  alcoves  will  contain  more  than  two 
hundred  thousand  volumes,  but  only  those  on  the  floor  of 
the  hall  are  now  shelved  for  books.  Each  alcove,  besides 
being  lighted  from  the  clear  space,  is  also  illuminated  by 
a  skylight,  admitting  direct  light  from  the  roof  of  the  build- 
ing. As  the  alcoves  are  constructed,  in  the  rear,  in  the 
form  of  a  V>  there  are  no  dark  corners.  All  the  alcoves 
are  enclosed  by  iron  railings  in  front,  and  have  openings  for 
the  free  passage,  from  one  to  another,  of  persons  connected 
with  the  library.  There  are  four  flights  of  circular  iron 
stairs  connecting  the  several  tiers  of  alcoves  and  gallerie?. 

In  front  of  the  northern  balcony  is  a  large  marble-faced 
time-keeper,  and  at  the  southern  end  of  the  hall  is  the  seal 
of  the  City  of  Boston,  beautifully  and  correctly  engraved. 
Over  the  seal  is  a  splendid  bust  of  JOSHUA  BATES,  the  noble 
benefactor  of  the  institution. 

SHELVES. 

All  the  shelves  in  the  building  are  of  wood,  and  are 
covered  with  a  fireproof  solution  of  glass. 


TRANSVERSE  SECTION. 


DESCRIPTION   OF   THE   BUILDING.  169 

By  a  vote  of  the  Trustees,  the  shelves  are  permanently 
fixed  in  their  places,  and  are  arranged  upon  a  plan  called 
"the  decimal  system,"  invented  and  applied,  several  years 
since,  to  the  Public  Library,  by  Dr.  NATHANIEL  B.  SHUBTLEPP, 
one  of  the  Trustees  and  Commissioners.  This  arrangement 
of  the  books  is  peculiar  to  the  library,  and  has  been  par- 
tially in  operation  at  the  temporary  library  rooms  in 
Mason  street,  from  the  first  institution  of  the  library. 
Besides  the  alcoves  on  the  floor  of  the  principal  hall, 
there  are  to  be,  in  each  of  the  two  galleries,  an  equal 
number.  The  hall  is  so  contrived  that  it  will  have  ten 
alcoves  on  each  of  its  sides,  and  the  same  number  in 
each  of  its  galleries,  making  sixty  alcoves  in  all.  Each 
alcove  will  contain  ten  ranges  of  shelves,  and  each  range 
ten  shelves,  making  just  one  hundred  shelves  to  each 
alcove. 

The  shelves  are  so  numbered,  that  the  figures  in  the  place 
of  hundreds  denote  the  alcoves,  the  figures  in  the  place  of 
tens  the  ranges,  and  the  figures  in  the  place  of  units  the 
shelves.  By  this  means,  a  book,  if  in  place,  can  be  found 
almost  instantly.  For  instance,  if  a  book  is  on  the  2236th 
shelf,  any  one  will  know  that  it  can  be  found  on  the  6th 
shelf  of  the  3d  range  of  the  22d  alcove.  The  figure  in  the 
place  of  thousands  will  show  where  the  row  of  ten  alcoves 
to  which  it  belongs  can  be  found.  As  there  are  twenty 
alcoves  in  the  lower  hall,  all  under  the  figure  1  in  the  place 
of  thousands  will  show  that  the  alcove  is  among  the  ten  on 
the  floor ;  and  all  under  figure  2  and  over  1  will  show  the 
alcoves  in  the  gallery  of  the  same  hall.  Again,  all  under 
figure  3  and  over  2,  in  the  same  position,  will  show  the  first 
row  of  alcoves  in  the  principal  hall,  those  under  4  the 
second  row,  etc.  The  object  of  this  decimal  arrangement 
of  shelves  is  to  render  the  library  more  manageable  than  it 
could  be  under  any  other  plan  now  in  use,  and  also  to 
simplify  all  the  details  connected  with  its  administration.- 


170  APPENDIX. 

THE    TOWERS. 

The  west  tower  is  six  stories  high.  The  lower  story 
is  of  the  same  height  with  the  basement,  and,  with  certain 
other  rooms,  is  for  the  Janitor  and  his  family.  The 
second  and  third  stories,  of  the  Same  height  with  the  first 
story  of  the  main  building,  are  approached  from  the  floor 
and  balcony  of  the  circulating  library  room,  and  are  for 
the  Librarian.  The  remaining  three  stories  are  included 
within  the  height  of  the  principal  hall,  with  floors  corres- 
ponding to  those  of  the  alcoves  and  galleries.  These 
will  be  used  as  rooms  for  the  Trustees,  and  the  general 
purposes  of  the  library.  The  east  tower  is  occupied  by 
an  iron  staircase,  arranged  upon  its  sides  and  ascending 
from  the  ground  floor  to  that  of  the  upper  gallery  of  the 
large  hall.  The  space  in  the  centre  is  intended  to  be 
used  for  hoisting  boxes,  etc. 

The  erection  of  the  entire  building  occupied  about  two 
and  a  half  years.  The  first  stone  of  the  foundation  was  laid 
on  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  June,  1855,  and  the  last  was  placed 
in  the  cornice  at  the  top  of  the  walls,  on  the  seventh  of 
August,  1856.  The  execution  of  the  contracts  for  the  inte- 
rior finish,  painting,  etc.,  was  completed  in  December,  1857. 


EXPENDITURES  ON  ACCOUNT  OF   THE   LAND  AND  BUILDING. 

THE    LAND. 

The  cost  of  the  four  lots  of  land  was,  ....  $107,627  00 
The  cost  of  draining,  grading,  and  other  pre- 
paratory operations,  was 1,603  34 

The  cost  of  repairing  adjoining  houses,  accord- 
ing to  the  terms  of  purchase,  together 
with  fences,  sidewalks,  paving,  etc.,  was  .  7,352  42 

Total, $116,582  76 


EXPENDITURES.  171 

THE    BUILDING. 

The    expenditures   connected    with    the    erection   of  the 
building  were  as  follows:  for 

Masonry,  including  the  cost  of  furnishing  and 
laying  about  three  and  a  quarter  millions 
of  bricks,  twenty-one  thousand  feet  of  sand- 
stone, six  thousand  feet  of  hammered  gran- 
ite, and  nine  hundred  perches  of  rough  stone,  $99,585  77 
Wrought  and  cast  iron  work,  including  iron 

shutters  and  doors, 48,001  91 

Carpenters'  and  joiners'  work, 34,857  09 

Plaster  and  stucco  work, 13,203  92 

Marble  work  and  tiles, 11,867  30 

Painting,  glazing  and  decorating, 9,39558 

Copper  roofs,  gutters  and  conductors, 8,192  04 

Plans,  models  and  superintendence, 5,087  00 

Furniture  and  fixtures  of  various  kinds, ....         4,543  33 

Warming  and  ventilating  apparatus, 3,816  44 

Gas-pipes  and  fixtures,    > 2,860  38 

Incidental  expenses,  such  as  fuel,  printing,  in- 
surance, care  of  building,  and  all  charges 

not  included  under  other  heads, \ 

Glass  for  windows  and  skylights, 

Plumbing  work, 

Papering  walls, 

Soapstone  work, 

Lightning  conductors, 

Compensation  of  surveyors, 

Expenses  attending  the   laying  of  the  corner- 
stone,   83  27 

Total, $247,051  07 

Add  cost  of  land  and  preparation, 116,582  76 

Total  expenditures  for  land  and  building,  .  .  $363,633  83 


172  APPENDIX. 

REPLIES  TO  INVITATIONS. 

Letters  were  sent  by  the  committee  having  the  matter 
in  charge,  inviting  the  participation  of  the  public  functiona- 
ries of  the  neighboring  cities  and  of  the  commonwealth, 
and  also  to  the  principal  United  States  officers  residing  in 
Boston,  as  well  as  to  various  literary  associations,  and  gen- 
tlemen having  a  special  interest  in  the  objects  of  the  occa- 
sion, enclosing  tickets  of  admission  to  the  library  building 
for  the  day  of  the  dedication. 

Many  of  the  persons  to  whom  these  invitations  of  the 
Committee  of  Arrangements  were  addressed,  responded  by 
their  presence  at  the  ceremonies.  From  many  others,  let- 
ters were  received  from  which  the  following  are  selected, 
being  all  that  the  limits  of  this  work  will  permit. 

Letter  from  his  Excellency,  HENRY  J.  GARDNER,  Governor 
of  the  Commonwealth. 

BOSTON,  DEC.  29,  1857. 

Hon.   Oliver  Frost,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  for 
the  dedication  of  the  Public  Library  Building, 

DEAR  SIR  :  —  I  have  the  honor  of  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the 
invitation  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  to  be  present,  with  my 
staff,  at  the  dedicatory  services  of  the  Free  Public  Library  Building,  on 
the  1st  proximo. 

It  will  give  me  much  pleasure  to  witness  the  completion  of  so  noble 
a  public  undertaking,  in  the  earlier  and  feeble  commencement  of  which 
it  was  my  privilege  to  participate,  some  years  since,  while  connected 
with  the  municipal  government  of  our  city.  I  trust  some  members  of 
my  staff,  also,  will  be  able  to  accompany  me. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

HENKY  J.  GAUDNEE. 


REPLIES   TO   INVITATIONS.  173 

Letter  from  Hon.  ASAHEL  HUNTINGTON. 

SALEM,  JAN.  1,  1858. 
To   Oliver  Frost,  Esq.,  Chairman  Com.  of  Arrangements. 

DEAR  SIR  :  —  I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  polite  invitation 
to  be  present  to-day  at  the  dedicatory  services  of  your  Public  Library, 
an  institution  in  your  city  which  will  mark  an  important  epoch  in  its 
history. 

Your  city  is  famous  in  the  country,  and  is. fast  becoming  so  through- 
out the  civilized  world,  for  all  manner  of  good  institutions,  designed  and 
adapted  to  ameliorate  and  elevate  the  condition  of  the  body  politic. 
The  first  day  of  the  new  year  is  aptly  appointed  for  the  inauguration  of 
the  Public  Library.  I  very  much  regret  that  official  duties  in  court 
will  prevent  my  being  present. 

Yours,  very  respectfully, 

ASAHEL  HUNTINGTON. 


Letter  from  Hon.  FRANCIS  B.  FAY,  Mayor  of  the  City  of 
Chelsea. 

MAYOR'S  OFFICE,  CHELSEA,  DEC.  30,  1857. 
Messrs.  Oliver  Frost  and  others,  Committee. 

GENTS  :  —  I  have  the  pleasure  to  acknowledge  your  very  kind  in- 
vitation to  be  present  at  the  dedication  of  the  Public  Library,  in  your 
city,  on  Friday  next. 

It  is  with  extreme  regret  that  I  inform  you  that  the  present  city 
government  of  this  city  close  their  labors  on  that  evening,  and  my 
absence  on  that  occasion  would,  probably,  be  regarded  as  improper. 
This  will  deprive  me  of  the  great  pleasure  it  would  afford  me  to  witness 
your  very  interesting  ceremony. 

There  are  few  subjects  I  regard  of  higher  importance  than  that 
public  libraries,  furnished  gratuitously  for  the  use  of  the  whole  people, 
should  be  established  in  every  city  and  town. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  obedient  servant, 

FRANCIS  B.  FAY. 


174  APPENDIX. 

COMMISSIONERS  ON  THE  ERECTION  OF  THE  BUILDING. 

•t 

ROBERT  C.  WINTHROP,        -)  Prom   December   20;  1854;  to 
SAMUEL  G.  WARD,  ^  ^^ 

NATHANIEL  B?  SHURTLEFF,  J 

JOSEPH  A.  POND,  from  April  14,  1855,  to  April  27,  1858. 
PELHAM  BONNET,  from  Jan.  30,  1856,  to  April  27,  1858. 
EDWARD  EVERETT,  from   May   24,  1856,  to  April  27,  1858. 
WILLIAM  PARKMAN,  from  Jan.  28,  1857,  to  April  27,  1858. 
GEORGE  TICKNOR,  from  Dec.  20,  1854,  to  May  22,  1856. 
GEORGE  ODIORNE,  from  Dec.  20,  1854,  to  March  26,  1855. 
GEORGE  W.  WARREN,  from  Dec.  20,  1854,  to  April  3,  1855. 
CHARLES  WOODBERRY,  from  April  14,  1855,  to  Jan.  22, 1856. 
EDWARD  F.  PORTER,  from  April  14,  1855,  to  Jan.  22,  1856. 
JOSEPH  BUCKLEY,  from  Jan.  30,  1856,  to  Jan.  26,  1857. 

EDWARD  CAPEN,  Clerk  of  the  Commission. 
CHARLES  K.  KIRBY,  Architect  and  Superintendent. 

The  various  parts  of  the  work  were  furnished  and  exe- 
cuted as  follows:  — 

Masonry  by Nathan  Drake. 

Sandstone  furnished  by  ...  Edward  F.  Meany. 

Granite  furnished  by ....  Hosley  &   Russell,  Gilman   & 

Goodrich. 
Surveyors  of  brick  and  stone 

work, David  Granger,  Wm.  Sparrell. 

Iron  work  by Smith,  Felton  &  Co.,.Denio  & 

Roberts. 

Iron  castings  furnished  by  the  East  Boston  Iron  Company. 
Carpenters'  and  joiners'  work 

by Morrison  &  Shaw. 

Plaster  and  stucco  work  by  Philip  &  Thomas  Kelley. 

Marble  work  by A.  Wentworth  &  Co. 

Painting  and  glazing  by    .    .  Lucius  Newell. 


TRUSTEES    OF   THE   LIBRARY.  175 

Decorative  painting  by  ...  William  Schutz. 

Copper  Roofs  by Charles  S.  Parker. 

Glass  furnished  by Damon,  Sherburne  &  Co. 

Plumbing  by Strater  &  Buckley. 

Soapstone  work   by    ....  George  H.  Foote. 

Gas-pipes  and  fixtures  by .  .  Andrew  J.  Gavett,  Smith  & 

Tarbell,  S.  A.  Stetson  & 
Co.,  H.  N.  Hooper  &  Co. 

Furniture  by Edward  Hixon. 


TRUSTEES  OF  THE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  FOR  THE  YEAR   1857. 

EDWARD  EVERETT,  from  1852  to  1858. 
GEORGE  TICKNOR,  from  1852  to  1858. 
JOHN  P.  BIGELOW,  from  1852  to  1858. 
NATHANIEL  B.  SHURTLEFF,  from  1852  to  1858. 
OLIVER  FROST,  from  1854  to  1858. 
WILLIAM  W.  GREENOUGH,  from  1856  to  1858. 
FREDERICK  L.  WASHBURN,  1857. 


CONDITION  OF  THE   PUBLIC  LIBRARY,  JANUARY  1,  1858. 

Number  of  volumes  in  the  library, 59,970 

Number  of  pamphlets  belonging  to  the  library,  .  .  16,212 
Whole  number  of  names  registered  in  the  reading 

room  for  the  general  use  of  the  library,  .  .  .  15,699 
Whole  number  of  accounts  opened  for  borrowing 

books, 14,394 

Whole. number  of  books  borrowed  in  1857,  ....  92,233 
Average  number  of  volumes  daily  borrowed,  ....  320 
Largest  number  of  books  borrowed  in  one  day, .  .  730 
Number  of  volumes,  etc.,  received  since  January  1st, 

1858,  in  response  to  the  vote  passed   at  the 

dedication  of  the  library  building, 1,471 


176  APPENDIX. 

LIBRARY  FUNDS. 

BIGELOW  FUND.  This  is  a  donation  made  by  Hon. 
JOHN  P.  BIGELOW,  August  5,  1850,  when  Mayor 
of  the  City.  The  income  from  this  fund  is  to 
be  appropriated  to  the  purchase  of  books  for 
the  increase  of  the  library. 

One  certificate  of  City  six  per  cent  stock, 
payable  to  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
the  Public  Library,  for  the  time  being,  for.  .  $1,000 

BATES  FUND.  This  is  a  donation  made  by  JOSHUA 
BATES,  Esq.,  of  London,  in  March,  1853.  The 
income  only  of  this  fund  is  to  be,  in  each  and 
every  year,  "  expended  in  the  purchase  of  such 
books  of  permanent  value  and  authority  as 
may  be  found  most  needed  and  most  useful." 

One  certificate  of  City  six  per  cent,  stock, 
payable  to  the  Mayor  of  the  City,  for  the  time 
being,  for 50,000 

PHILLIPS  FUND.  This  is  a  donation  made  by  Hon. 
JONATHAN  PHILLIPS,  of  Boston,  in  April,  1853. 
The  interest  on  this  fund  is  to  "  be  used  ex- 
clusively for  the  purchase  of  books  for  said 
library." 

One  certificate  of  City  six  per  cent,  stock, 
payable  to  the  Mayor  of  the  City,  for  the  time 
being,  for 10,000 

Besides  the  above,  the  following  donations  in  money  have 
been  made  to  the  Public  Library,  and  the  amounts  have  been 
appropriated  to  the  purchase  of  books,  according  to  the  in- 
tention of  the  donors : 

JAMES  BROWN,  June  28,  1852, $500 

SAMUEL  APPLETON,  September  24,  1852, 1,000 


CONTRIBUTORS    OF   BOOKS,    ETC. 


177 


JAMES  NIGHTINGALE,  March  5,  1853, $100" 

NATHANIEL  I.  BOWDITCH,  November  4,  1853,  value,  200 
J.  INGEESOLL  BOWDITCH,  December  4,  1853,  ....  300 
Mrs.  SALLY  INMAN  KAST  SHEPARD,  September  17, 

1855, 1,000 

Also,  a  bequest  of  the  late  Hon.  ABBOTT  LAWRENCE, 
dated  January  27,  1855,  not  yet  received  by 
the  City  Treasurer, 10,000 


CONTRIBUTORS  OF  BOOKS,  ETC.,  TO  JANUARY  1,  1858. 


Adams  George 

Adams  Nehemiah 

Albany  Young  Men's  Association 

Alger  William  K. 

Allen  Edward,  London 

Allen  John  Fiske,  Salem 

Allen  William,  Northampton 

Amer.  Antiquarian  Society 

Amer.  Asso.  for  adv.  of  Science 

Amer.  Board  of  Com.  for  F.  M. 


Amer.  Tract  Society 
Amer.  Unitarian  Association 
Anderson  Paul,  Cincinnati 
Andrews  Joseph 
Appleton  John  W.  M. 
Appleton  Samuel 
Appleton  Thomas  Or. 
Appleton  William 
Athenaeum  Club,  London 
Austin  Edward 


Austin  James  T. 


Balch  Thomas,  Philadelphia 
Balfour  David  M. 
Ball  William  T.  W. 
Ballard  &  Prince 
Ballou  Maturin  M. 
Barker  James  M. 
Barnard  Henry,  Connecticut 
Barrows  H.  G. 
Bartlett  St.  John  &  Co. 
Bartlett  J.  R.,  Providence 
Batchelder  S.,  Cambridge 
Bates  Isaac  C. 
Bates  Joshua,  London 
Bates  Joshua  Mrs.,  London 

23 


Bigelow  Henry  J. 

Bigelow  Jacob 

Bigelow  John  P. 

Binney  C.  J.  F. 

Binney  Horace,  Philadelphia 

Bishop  Nathan 

Bolles  John  A. 

Boltwood  Lucius  M.,  Amherst 

Bond  William  C.,  Cambridge 

Boston,  City  of 

Boston,  England 

Boston  Mercantile  Library  Asso. 

Boston  Prison  Discipline  Society 

Boston  Soc.  for  Med.  Observat'n 


178 


APPENDIX. 


Boston  Soc.  of  Natural  History 
Boston  Y.  M.  Christian  Union 
Bout  well  George  S. 
Bowditch  Library  Proprietors 
Bowditch  Henry  I. 
Bowditch  J.  Ingersoll 
Bowditch  Nathaniel,  children  of 
Bowditch  Nathaniel  I. 
Bradford  Charles  F. 
Bradford  Thomas  G. 
Bradlee  Caleb  D.,  Cambridge 
Burnham 

Cambridge,  City  of 

Capen  John 

Gary  Thomas  G. 

Cass  Lydia  A. 

Chandler  George,  Worcester 

Chandler  J.  G. 

Channing  Walter 

Channing  W.  F. 

Chesbrough  E.  Sylvester 

Chickering  C.  F. 

Chickering  Jesse 

Christern  F.  W.,  New  York 

Cincinnati  Y.  M.  Library  Asso. 

Clapp  David 

Clapp  Otis 


Bradlee  John  N. 
Bradlee  Samuel 
Brooks  Peter  C. 
Brown  Obadiah,  Trustees  of 
Brown  William  S. 
Browne  George  M. 
Buchanan  A. 
Buck  Ephraim 
Buckley  Joseph 
Bulfinch  Thomas 
Burnham  E.  J. 
&  Brother 

Clapp  W.  W.,  Jr. 

Clark  John 

Clark  Luther 

Clark,  Fellows  &  Co. 

Clarke  Edward  H. 

Coale  W.  E. 

Codman  Edward 

Coffin  Sir  Isaac 

Cogswell  Joseph  G.,  New  York 

Colman  Henry 

Copeland  Elisha 

Cornell  William  M. 

Couthouy  J.  P. 

Cummings  A.  I. 

Curtis  Josiah 


Ball  William 
Dalton  J.  G. 
Danforth  Hannah  G. 
Dartmouth  College,  Trustees 
Davis  David  E. 
Dearborn  Nathaniel 
Dehon  William 
Dench  Lawson  B. 
Dennet  C.  F. 


Dennet  W.  H. 
Denton  William 
Derby  E.  Hasket 
of      Dillaway  Charles  K. 
Dixon  B.  Homer 
Dodd  William 
Dodd  William,  Mrs. 
Dudley  Dean 
Dupee  James  A. 


CONTRIBUTORS   OF   BOOKS,   ETC. 


179 


Dupee  &  Perkins 
Durkee  Silas 

Eastburn  John  H. 
Eliot  Samuel 
Eliot  Samuel  A. 
Elliott  E.  B. 

Farnham  Luther 
Felt  J.  H. 

Fernald  Woodberry  M. 
Flint  Charles  L. 
Forbes  R.  B. 
Foster  E.  B.  &  Co. 
Foster  F.  E. 
Foster  William 

Gale  Lydia  S. 

Gait  J.  M.,  Virginia 

Garrison  William  L. 

Gasking  Samuel 

Gassett  Edward 

Gilbert  A.,  New  York 

Girard  Charles,  Philadelphia 

Goodwin  Daniel,  Hartford 

Gould  A.  A. 

Grafton  Joseph 

Graham  George,  London 

Guild  Hall  Library 

Hale  Nathan  and  Charles 
Hall  Charles  B. 
Hardy  Alpheus  &  Co. 
Hartshorn  Eliphalet  P. 
Hartshorn  Eliphalet  P.,  Mrs. 
Harvard  Col.,  Pres.  and  Fel.  of 
Harvard  College  Observatory 
Harvard  Musical  Association 


Dutton  &  Son 
D  wight  Louis 

Endicott  Charles  M.,  Salem 
Essex  Institute,  Salem 
Bustis  William  T. 
Everett  Edward 

Fox  William  C.,  Dorchester 
France,  Minister  of  Marine 
French  B.  F.,  New  Orleans 
French  James  &  Co. 
Frost  Oliver 

Frothingham  Nathaniel  L. 
Fuller  Arthur  B. 
Fuller  Henry  W. 

Gray  Asa 

Gray  Francis  C. 

Gray  John  C. 

Gray  William,  Mrs. 

Green  Samuel  A. 

Greene  C.  W.,  Greenwich,  K.  I. 

Greene  J.  S.  Copley 

Greenough  W.  W. 

Griswold  Almon  W. 

Guild  Albert 

Guild  Benjamin 

Committee,  London 

Hastings  Mary  Ann 
Haven  S.  F.,  Jr. 
Hayward  George 
Henry  Joseph 

Herrick  E.  C.,  Yale  College 
Hewins  James  M. 
Hickcox  John  H.,  Albany 
Higginson  T.  Wentworth 


180  APPENDIX. 

Hillard  George  S.  Hooper  Robert  C. 

Hills  George  Hooper  Samuel 

Hodges  A.  D.  Hopedale  Quarterly  Conference 

Holland  F.  W.,  Cambridge  Howe  John,  Jr. 

Hunt  Harriot  K. 

• 

Ingraham  Mary  S.  Imperial  Royal  Geol.  In.,  Vienna 

Institution  of  Civ.  Eng.,  London  Im.  Ins.  of  Science,  Venice 
Imperial  Society  of  Naturalists,  Moscow 

Jackson  Abby  C.  Jackson  Samuel  C. 

Jackson  Francis  Jarvis  Edward,  Dorchester 

Jackson  James  Jones  J.  S. 

Keyes  Frederick  J.  King  Gedney,  Mrs. 

Kimball  J.  Francis  Kingman  Charles  B. 

King  David,  Newport,  R.  I.  Kittredge  Edward  A. 
Kneeland  Samuel,  Jr. 

Lamb  Anthony  Livermore  George,  Cambridge 

Lambord  William  Liverpool,  Mayor  &  Cor.  of 

Lawrence  Abbott  Longfellow  Henry  W. 

Lawrence  T.  Bigelow  Loring  Ellis  Gray 

Lawrence  William  R.  Loring  James  S. 

Lee  Thomas  J.  Lothrop  Samuel  K. 

Leeds  Charles  H.,  New  York  Lowell  Charles 

Library  Company,  Philadelphia  Lowell  John 

Lincoln  Frederic  W.,  Jr.  Lunt  William  P.,  Quincy 

Little,  Brown  &  Co.  Lunt  William  P.,  Jr.,  Quincy 
Lyman  George  H. 

McCleary  S.  F.,  Senior.  Manypenny  George  W. 

McCleary  S.  F.,  Mrs.  Maryland  Historical  Society 

McCleary  S.  F.  Mass.  Charitable  Mechanic  Asso. 

McMahon  J.  B.  Mass.  Horticultural  Society 

McMullen  John,  New  York  Mass.  Soc.  for  Pro.  Agriculture 

McVey  Massachusetts,  State  of 

Manchester  City  Lib.,  Trus.  of  Means  James 


CONTRIBUTORS    OF   BOOKS,   ETC.  181 

Medford,  Selectmen  of  Missouri,  State  of 

Merriam  Joseph  W.  Montagu  A.  de 

Merrill  Elizabeth  L.  Munroe  James 

Merritt  J.,  Mrs.  Munroe  James  &  Co. 

Middlesex  Mec.  Asso.,  Lowell  Munsell  J.,  Albany 
Murray  Fund,  Trustees  of 

New  Bedford  Pub.  Lib.,  Trustees  N.  York,  State  of 

N.  York  Mercantile  Lib.,  Direct's  Nicolson  Samuel 

Newburyport  Pub.  Lib.,  Direct's  Norton  Charles  B.,  New  York 

N.   York,  Begents  University  of  Norton  Charles  E.,  Cambridge 

N.  York  Society  Library  Norwood  Samuel 
Nott  Samuel 

Odin  John  Odiorne  James  C. 

Odiorne  George  Oliver  Fitch  Edward 
Otis  Harrison  Gray,  Mrs. 

Page  William  H.  Picard  William 

Paine  Martyn,  New  York  Piper  Solomon 

Parker  Henry  T.  Pond  Joseph  A. 

Parsons  Usher  Poole  William  F. 

Peabody  Augustus,  Mrs.  Porter  W.  H. 

Peabody  Institute,  Danvers  Potter  E.  K.,  Bhode  Island 

Pennsylvania,  State  of  Prescott  Frederic  W. 

Perabeau  H.  Prescott  William  H. 

Phillips  Jonathan  Pulsifer  David 

Phillips,  Sampson  &  Co.  Putnam  Charles  G. 

Quimby  J.  A.  Quincy  Eliza  S. 
Quincy  Josiah 

Bandall  John  W.  Bichardson  Benjamin  P. 

Baymond  Samuel  M.  Bichardson  James  B. 

Beed  Sampson  Bichmond  John  W.,  Providence 

Beed  Hiram  A.  Biddle  Edward 

Bhode  Island  Historical  Society  Bobbins  Chandler 

Bich  Brothers,  London  Boelker  Bernard 


182 


APPENDIX. 


Rogers  J.  K.  &  Co. 

San  Francisco  Mer.  Lib.  Asso. 
Sawyer  F.  W. 
Sears  David 
Seaver  Benjamin 
Seidensticker  J.  G. 
Shattuck  George  C.,  Jr. 
Shattuck  Lemuel 
Shaw  Benjamin  S. 
Shaw  Gr.  Howland 
Shimmin  William 
Shurtleff  Nathaniel  B. 
Sinclair  A.  D. 
Smith  Benjamin 
Smith  Elbridge,  Cambridge 
Smith  J.  V.  C. 
Smithsonian  Institution 

Symonds 

Tappan  J.  L.,  Michigan 
Tarbell  T.,  Mrs. 
Thayer  Gideon  F. 
Thayer  S. 
Thompson  Louisa 
Thorington  J. 
Thornton  J.  Wingate 

U.  States  Coast  Survey 

U.  States,  Depart,  of  Interior 

U.  States  Patent  Office 


Ruggles  S.  B.,  New  York 

Snelling  Edward  A. 
Snow  Herman 
Southey  Thomas,  England 
Sparks  Jared 
Spear  Charles 
Spencer  William  V. 
Spurr  Oliver  H. 
Stevens  Benjamin  F. 
Stodder  Charles 
Stodder  Jonathan 
Stone  James  W. 
Storer  D.  H. 

Stuart  G.  Okill,  Mrs.,  Quebec 
Sumner  Charles 
Sumner  William  H.,  Roxbury 
Sunderland  Laroy 
Sarah  W. 

Thwing  Thomas 
Ticknor  George 
Ticknor,  Reed  &  Fields 
Torrey  Henry  W. 
Townsend  Solomon  D. 
Tuckerman  Edward 
Turner  J.  W. 

U.  States  State  Department 
U.  States  Treasury  Department 
U.  States  War  Department 


Vattemare  Alex. 


Wallcut  Robert  F. 
Wales  George  W- 
Walker  Amasa 


Vermont  University 
Viele  Egbert  L.,  New  York 

Walley  Samuel  H. 
Ward  Samuel  G. 
Ward  Thomas  W. 


CONTRIBUTORS   OF   BOOKS,   ETC. 


183 


"Ware  John 

Warren  John  C. 

Warren  J.  Mason 

Warren  Street  Chapel  Library 

Webb  Thomas  H. 

Webster  Daniel 

Webster  George  W.,  Wheeling 

Weld  Moses  W. 

Wells  E.  M.  P. 

Welsh  Charles  W.,  Washington 

West  Chas.  H.,  Charlest'n,  N.  H. 

West  E.  L.,  Mrs. 

Wetherbee  Moses  H. 

Wetherell  Leander 

Wetmore  Thomas 

Whipple  &  Black 

Whitmore  William  H. 

Whitney  F.  A.,  Brighton 

Whitney  Henry  A. 


Whitwell  Samuel 

Wilkins  John  H. 

Willard  F.  A. 

Williams  Henry  W. 

Williams  John  D.  W.,  Boxbury 

Willis  Richard  S. 

Willis  Nathaniel 

Wilson  Henry 

Wilson  John 

Winsor  Justin 

Winthrop  Bobert  C. 

Wise  Henry  A. 

Wise  Isaac  K. 

Wise  John,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

Withington  William 

Woods  Charles 

Worthington  &  Flanders 

Wright  Caleb 

Wright  Ephraim  M. 


Wyatt  Sophia 


INDEX 


SUBJECTS 


Appleton,  Samuel,  donation  to  the  library, 176 

•   Architect  of  the  building, 1 74 

Arrangements  for  the  ceremonies  of  dedication, 13 

Bates,  Joshua,  letter  from, 62 

fund  established  by, 176 

Bigelow,  John  P.,  fund  established  by, 121,  176 

Bradlee,  Capt,  acceptance  of,  to  serve  as  Chief  Marshal,     ....  20 

Brown,  James,  donation  to  the  library,  .     .     .     .    * 176 

Butler,  Charles,  musical  director, 32,  78 

Ceremonies  at  the  dedication, 33 

address  of  Mr.  AVinthrop  on  delivering  the  keys  to  the  Mayor,  43 

address  of  Mayor  Kice  on  receiving  the  keys,      .• 69 

address  of  Keception  by  Mr  Everett, 87 

announcement  of  the  City  Government  by  Col.  Frost,  ....  42 

anthem, 84 

benediction  by  Rev.  Mr.  Fuller, 104 

doxology, 104 

formation  and  movement  of  procession,  for, 39,  40 

hymn, 79 

prayer  of  Dedication  by  Rev.  Dr.   Stow, 80 

presentation  of  the  keys  by  the  Mayor  to  the  Trustees,    ...  85 

termination  of  the  ceremonies, 105 

voluntary  by  the  band  at  the  building, 40 

Chief  Marshal,  appointment  of, 19 

Collation  given  to  the  choir, 106 

Commissioners,  conference  of  Committee  of  Arrangements  with,  .     .  15 

proceedings  of,  in  relation  to  the  dedication  of  the  building,     .  15 

communication  from,  to  the  City  Council, 17 

names  of, 27,  174 


188  INDEX. 

Committee  of  Arrangements,  appointment  of, 14 

proceedings  of, 15 

sub-committee  of,  to  confer  with  the  Commissioners,      .     .     .     .  15 

sub-committees  of, 18 

report  of, •     ....  24 

advertisement  of, 27 

reunion  of, 106 

Contributors  of  books  to  the  library, 177 

Contributors  of  funds  to  the  library, 176 

Contributors  of  money  to  the  library, 176 

Dedication  of  the  building :  Advertisement  of  Committee  of  Arrange- 
ments in  relation  to, 27 

arrangements  for, 13 

Capt.  Bradlee  invited  to  be  marshal  on  the  occasion  of,  .     .     .  19 

ceremonies  at, 39 

Committee  of  Arrangements  for, 13 

Committee  of  Conference  with  the  Commissioners  in  relation  to,  15 

communication  from  the  Commissioners  in  relation  to,  .     .     .     .  17 

final  proceedings  in  relation  to, Ill 

letter  from  the  Trustees  in  relation  to, 22 

letter  of    Capt.   Rogers,  tendering  the    services    of   the    Boston 

Light  Infantry  as  escort  on  the  occasion  of, 20 

letter  of  invitation  from  Committee  of  Arrangements  for,  ...  26 

letter  of  Mayor  Rice  in  relation  to, 17 

marshals  for, 32 

offer  of  Capt.  Rogers  of  escort  for,  accepted, 21 

order  of  exercises  for, 31 

order  of  procession  for, 28 

order  passed  for  the  ceremonies  of, 13 

order  passed  for  printing  proceedings  relating  to, 112 

order  to  close  certain  streets  in  consequence  of, 33 

preliminary  proceedings  for, 13 

proceedings  of  Commissioners  in  relation  to, 15 

proceedings  of  Committee  of  Arrangements  for, 15 

proceedings  of  the  Trustees  in  relation  to, 23 

report  of  Committee  of  Arrangements  in  relation  to,     ....  24 

resolutions  of  thanks  in  relation  to, Ill 

response  of    Capt.  Bradlee  to  the  invitation  to  be  marshal   at 

the, 20 

route  of  procession  for, 31 

special  arrangements  at  City  Hall  for, 34 

sub-committee  for  publishing  proceedings  at, 113 

sub-committees  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  for,  ....  18 


SUBJECTS.  189 

Entertainment  by  Mayor  Rice, 106 

Everett,  Edward,  letter  from, 22 

address  of  reception  by, 87 

Exercises,  order  of, 33 

Facts  relating  to  the  establishment  of  the  library  and  the  erection 

of  the  building, 117 

Frost,  Alderman,  announcement  of  the  City  Government  by,   .     .     .     42 

reply  to  Capt.  Rogers, 21 

Fuller,  Arthur  B.,  benediction  by, 104 

Gift  of  the  marshals, 106 

Hatch,  Alderman,  letter  to  Capt.  Bradlee, 19 

Inspection  of  the  building, 105 

Invitations,  replies  to, 172 

Lawrence,  Abbott,  donation  to  the  library, 176 

Library,  condition  of, 175 

contributors  to, 176,  177 

Library  building,  architect  of, 174 

commissioners  on  the  erection  of, 174 

contractors  for  the  erection  of, 174 

decoration  of,  at  the  dedication, 34 

description  of, 163 

expenditures  on   account  of, 171 

history  of, 117 

inspection  of, 105 

Library  estate, 160 

expenditures  on  account  of, 170 

Library  funds, 176 

Marshals,      . 32 

gift  of  books   by, 107 

Mayor,   Alexander   H.   Rice,  address   on  receiving  the   keys  of  the 

library  building, 69 

entertainment  by, 106 

letter  from,  relating  to  the  dedication, 17 

presentation   of  the  keys  by,  to  the  Trustees, 85 

Military  escort, 20,  28,  39 

Phillips,  Jonathan,  fund  established  by, 176 

Position  of  the  company  in  the  hall, 41 

Procession,  formation  of, 39 

marshals  of, 32 

movement  of, 40 

order  of, 28 

route  of, 31 

Rogers,  Capt.  letter  of,  tendering  escort, 20 


190  INDEX. 

Stow,  Baron,  prayer  of  dedication  by, 80 

Trustees  for  the  year  1857, 27,  175 

letter  from,  to  Committee  of  Arrangements, 22 

presentation  of  the  keys  of  the  building  to, 85 

proceedings  of  the  Board  of,  in  relation  to  the  dedication,    .     .  23 

reception  of  the  keys  by  the  President  of  the  Board  of,  .     .     .  87 

Votes,  appointing  a  sub-committee   for  publishing  the  proceedings   at 

the  dedication, 113 

authorizing  the  preparation  of  the  account, 113 

authorizing  the  ceremonies  of  dedication, 13 

for  printing  proceedings, 112 

of  books  to  the  library  as  a  new  year's  gift, 99 

of  thanks  to  escort, Ill 

of  thanks  to  marshal, Ill 

of  thanks  to  Messrs.  Stow,  Fuller  and  Butler, 112 

to  close  the  streets,     . 33 

"Winthrop,  R.  C.,  address  of,  on  delivering  the  keys  to  the  Mayor,  .  43 


NAMES. 


Adams,  Chas.  Francis,  118. 
Adams,  George,  177. 
Adams,  Matthew,  96. 
Adams,  Nehemiah,  177. 
Alger,  William  E.,  177. 
Allen,  Charles  H.,  32,  39. 
Allen,  Edward,  177. 
Allen,  John  Fiske,  177. 
Allen,  William,  177. 
Anderson,  John  F.,  33. 
Anderson,  Paul,  177. 
Andrew,  John,  4. 
Andrews,  Joseph,  177. 
Appleton,  John  W.  M.,  177. 
Appleton,  Samuel,  176, 177. 
Appleton,  Thomas  G.,  177. 
Appleton,  William,  177. 
Apthorp,  Harrison  O.,  161. 
Apthorp,  Robert  E.,  160, 161. 
Austin,  Edward,  177. 
Austin,  James  T.,  177. 

Balch,  Thomas,  177. 
Baldwin  &  Emerson,  153. 
Balfour,  David  M.,  177. 
Ball,  William  T.  W.,  177. 
Ballard  &  Prince,  177. 
Ballou,  Maturin  M.,  177. 
Barker,  James  M.,  177. 
Barnard,  Henry,  177. 
Barrows,  H.  G.,  177. 
Bartlett,  St.  John   &    Co., 

177. 

Bartlett,  J.  R.,  177. 
Batchelder  S.,  177. 
Bates,  Isaac  C.,  177. 
Bate?,  Joshua,  54,  62,  63, 102, 

126, 132, 136,  145,  146,  147, 

155, 168, 176,  177. 
Bates,  Joshua,  Mrs.,  177. 


Bigelow,  Henry  J-,  177. 
Bigelow,  Jacob,  177. 
Bigelow,  John  P.,  27, 41, 121, 

175, 176, 177. 
Billings,  Hammatt,  4. 
Binney,  C.  J.  F.,  177. 
Binney,  Horace,  177. 
Bishop,  Nathan,  177. 
Blagden,  George  W.,  118. 
Blake,  George  P.,  161. 
Blake,  Mary,  161. 
Bolles,  John  A.,  177. 
Boltwood,  Lucius  M.,  177. 
Bond,  William  C.,  177. 
Bonney,  Pelham,  14,  16,  27, 

56,  106,  128,  148,  151,  152, 

157, 158, 174. 

Boutwell.  George  S.,  178. 
Bowditch,  Henry  I.,  178. 
Bowditch,  J.  Ingersoll,  177, 

178. 

Bowditch  Nathaniel,  178. 
Bowditch,  Nathaniel  I.,  132, 

177, 178. 

Bradford,  Charles  F.,  178. 
Bradford,  Thomas  G.,  178. 
Bradlee,  Caleb  D.,  178. 
Bradlee,  John  N.,  178. 
Bradlee,  J.  Putnam,  19,  20, 

22,  33, 39, 106,  111. 
Bradlee,  Samuel,  178. 
Brimmer,  Martin,  118. 
Brooks,  Peter  C.,  178. 
Brown,  James,  176. 
Brown,  Obadiah,  178. 
Brown,  William  S.,  178. 
Browne,  George  M.,  178. 
Brownwell,  Master,  94. 
Buchanan,  A..  178. 
Buck,  Ephraim,  178. 


Buckley,  Joseph,  41,  57,  148 

174, 178. 

Bulflnch,  Thomas,  178. 
Burn  ham,  E.  J.,  178. 
Burnham,  O.  H.  P.,  97. 
Burnham  &  Brother,  178. 
Butler,  Charles,  32,  78, 112. 

Capen,  Edward,  24,  58, 121, 

138, 143, 158, 174. 
Capen,  John,  178. 
Carter,  Richard  B.,  118. 
Gary,  Thomas  G.,  178. 
Cass,  Lydia  A.,  178. 
Chandler,  George,  178. 
Chandler,  J.  G.,  178. 
Channing,  Walter,  118, 178. 
Channing,  W.  F.,  178. 
Chapman,  Jonathan,  117. 
Chesbrough,  E.  S.,  278. 
Chickering,  C.  F.,  178. 
Chickering,  George  H.,  33. 
Chickering,  Jesse,  178. 
Chickering,  Messrs.,  79. 
Christern,  F.  W.,  178. 
Clapp,  David,  178. 
Clapp,  Otis,  178. 
Clapp,  W.  W.,  Jr.,  178. 
Clark,  John,  178. 
Clark,  Luther,  178. 
Clark,  Fellows  &  Co.,  178. 
Clarke,  Edward  H.,  178. 
Coale,  W.  E.,  178. 
Codman  Edward,  178. 
CoflSn,  Sir  Isaac,  178. 
Cogswell,   Joseph   G.,   148, 

178. 

Colman,  Henry,  178. 
Copeland,  Elisha,  178. 
Cornell,  William  M.,  178. 


192 


INDEX. 


Couthoy,  J.  P.,  178. 
Cummings,  A.  I.,  178. 
Curtis,  Josiah,  178. 

Ball,  William,  178. 
Dalton,  J.  G.,  178. 
Damon,  Sherburne  &  Co., 

175. 

Danforth,  Hannah  G.,  178. 
Davis,  David  E.,  178. 
Davis,  J.  Amory,  136. 
Dearborn,  Nathaniel,  178. 
Dehon,  William,  178. 
Dench,  Lawson  B.,  178. 
Denio  &    Roberts,  47,  150, 

174. 

Dennet,  C.  F.,178. 
Dennet,  W.  H.,  178. 
Denton,  William,  178. 
Derby,  E.  Basket,  128, 178. 
Dexter,  George  M..  162. 
Dillaway,  Charles  K.,  178. 
Dingley,  John  T.,  152. 
Dixon,  B.  Homer,  152. 
Dodd,  William,  178. 
Dodd,  William,  Mrs.,  178. 
Drake,  Nathan,  46,  142,  143, 

174. 
Dresser,  Jacob  A.,  15, 18,19, 

26,  27. 

Dudley,  Dean,  178. 
Dunham,  Josiah,  Jr.,  136. 
Dupee,  James  A.,  178. 
Dupee  &  Perkins,  179. 
Durkee,  Silas,  179. 
Dutton  &  Son,  179. 
Dwigbt,  Louis,  179. 

Eastburn,  John  H.,  179. 

Eaton,  William,  118. 

E..'ot,  Samuel,  179. 

Eliot,  Samuel  A.,  41,  121, 
179. 

Elliott,  E.  B  ,  179.' 

'Emerson,  W.  Ralph,  33. 

Endicott,  Charles  M.,  179. 

Eustis,  William  T.,  179. 

Everett,  A.  Sidney,  33. 

Everett,  Edward,  22,  23,  27, 
32,  57,  84,  85,  87,  99,  104, 
107,  112,  121,  122, 130, 131, 
149,  157,  174,  175, 179. 

Farnham,  Luther,  179. 
Fay,  Francis  B.,  173. 
Felt,  J.  H.,  179. 
Fernald,  Woodberry  M.,  179. 
Flagg,  Eben,  31,  40. 


Folsom,  Charles,  148. 
Foote,  George  H.,  175. 
Forbes,  R.  B.,  179. 
Fosdick,  Win.  B.,  161. 
Foster,  E.  B.  &  Co.,  179. 
Foster,  F.  E.,  179. 
Foster,  William.  179. 
Fox,  William  C.,  179. 
Franklin,  Benjamin,  74,  92, 

93,  94,  95,  97,  98,  99,  100, 

101. 

French,  B.  F.,  179. 
French,  James  &  Co.,  179. 
Frost,  Oliver,  14,  15,  18,  21, 

22.  23,  24,  25,  26, 27, 41, 106, 

172, 173, 175, 179. 
Frothingham,  Nathaniel  L., 

179. 
Fuller,  Arthur  B.,  32,  104, 

112, 179. 
Fuller,  Henry  W.,  179. 

Gale,  Lydia  S.,  179. 
Gait,  J.  M.,  179. 
Galvin,  John,  40. 
Gannett,  Ezra  S.,  118. 
Gardner,  Henry  J.,  172. 
Garrison,  William  L.,  179. 
Gasking,  Samuel,  179. 
Gassett,  Edward,  179. 
Gavett,  Andrew  J.,  47, 175. 
Gilbert,  A.,  179. 
Gilman  &.  Goodrich,  174. 
Girard,  Charles,  179. 
Goodwin,  Daniel,  179. 
Gould,  A.  A.,  179. 
Gould,  Salma  E.,  144. 
Grafton,  Joseph,  179. 
Graham,  George,  179. 
Granger,  David,  144, 174. 
Gray,  Asa,  179. 
Gray,  Francis  C.,  179. 
Gray,  John  C.,  179. 
Gray,  William,  Mrs.,  179. 
Green,  Samuel  A.,  179. 
Greene,  C.  W.,  179. 
Greene,  J.  S.  Copley,  179. 
Greenough,  W.  W.,  27,  175 

179. 

Griswold,  A.  W.,  128, 179. 
Guild,  Albert,  179. 
Guild,  Benjamin.  179. 
Guild,  Samuel  E.,  119. 

Hale,  Nathan  and  Charles, 

179. 

Hall,  Charles  B.,  179. 
Hardy,  Alpheus,  &  Co.,  179, 


Hartshorn,  Eliphalet  P.,  179 
Hartshorn,  Eliphalet  P.. Mrs. 

179. 

Hastings.  Mary  Ann,  179. 
Hatch,  Samuel,  14,   19,  20, 

26,  27, 159, 162. 
Haven,  S.  F.,  Jr.,  179. 
Hayward,  George,  179. 
Healy.  John  P..  106. 
Henry,  Joseph,  179. 
Herrick,  E.  C.,  179. 
Hewins,  James  M.,  179. 
Hickcox,  John  H.,  179. 
Higginson,  T.    Wentworth, 

179. 

Hillard,  George  S.,  180. 
Hills,  George,  180. 
Hixon,  Edward,  175. 
Hodges,  A.  D.,  180. 
Hodges,  E.  F.,  128. 
Holland,  F.  W.,  180. 
Hooper,  Henry  N.,  137, 140. 
Hooper,  H.  N.  &  Co.,  175. 
Hooper,  Robert  C.,  ISO. 
Hooper.  Samuel,  180. 
Hosley  &  Russell,  174. 
Howe,  John,  Jr.,  180. 
Hunt,  Harriot  K.,  180. 
Huntington,  Asahel,  173. 

Ingersoll,  Francis,  32,  39. 
Ingraham,  Mary  S.,  180. 

Jackson,  AbbyC.,  180. 
Jackson,  Francis,  180. 
Jackson,  James,  180. 
Jackson,  Samuel  C.,  180. 
James,  Benjamin,  129, 132. 
Jarvis,  Edward,  180. 
Jones,  J.  S.,  180. 
Josselyn,  Freeman  M.,  Jr., 
14, 19,  26,  27. 

Kelley,  Philip    &   Thomas, 

47,  150,  174. 

Keyes,  Frederick  J.,  180. 
Kimball,  J.  Francis,  ISO. 
King,  David,  180. 
King,  Gedney,  Mrs.,  180. 
Kingsbury,  George  H.,  33 
Kingman,  Charles  B.,  180. 
Kirhy,  Charles  K.,  16,  46, 

142, 143, 174. 

Kittri'dge,  Edward  A.,  180. 
Kneeland,  Samuel,  Jr..  180. 
Krogman,  Samuel  B..  32,  39. 

Lamb,  Anthony,  180. 


NAMES. 


193 


Lambord,  William,  180. 
Lawrence,  Abbott,  62,  177, 

180. 

Lawrence,  T.  B.,  180. 
Lawrence,  William  R.,  180. 
Lee,  Thomas  J.,  180. 
Leeds,  Charles  H.,  180. 
Lincoln,  Frederic  W.,  Jr., 

41, 159, 160, 180. 
Little,  Brown  &  Co.,  180. 
Livermore,  George,  180. 
Longfellow,  Henry  W.,  180. 
Loring,  Caleb  G.,  127. 
Loring,  Ellis  Gray,  180. 
Loring,  James  S.,  180. 
Lothrop,  Samuel  K.,  180. 
Lowell,  Charles.  180. 
Lowell,  John,  180. 
Lunt,  William  P.,  180. 
Lunt,  William  P.,  Jr.,  180. 
Lyman,  George  H.,  180. 

McCleary,  S.  F.,  Senior,  180. 
McCleary,  S.  F.,  Mrs.,  180. 
McCleary,   Samuel   F.,    34, 

180. 

McGilvray,  David  F.,  33. 
McMahon,  J.  B.,  180. 
McMullen,  John,  180. 
McVey,  180. 

Manypenny,  Geo.  W.,  180. 
Means,  James,  180. 
Meany,  Edward  F.,  153, 174. 
Mears,  Granville,  33. 
Merriam,  Joseph  W.,  181. 
Merrill,  Elizabeth  L.,  181. 
Merritt,  J.,  Mrs.,  181. 
Meyer,  J.  S.,  148. 
Montagu,  A.  de,  181. 
Moore,  G.  H.,  148. 
Morrison  &  Shaw,  47,  150, 

153, 174. 
Moulton,  Charles  J.  B.,  32, 

39. 

Mullin,  John  K.,  136. 
Munroe,  Abel  B.,  41. 
Munroe.  James,  181. 
Munroe,  James  &  Co.,  181. 
Munsell,  J.,  181. 

Newell,  Lucius,  47, 150, 174. 
Nicolson,  Samuel,  181. 
Nightingale,  James,  132, 177. 
Norton,  Charles  B.,  181. 
Norton,  Charles  E.,  181. 
Norwood,  Samuel,  181. 
Nott,  Samuel,  181. 

25 


Odin,  John,  181. 

Odiorne,  Geo.,  57,  136,  137, 

140,  174, 181. 
Odiorne,  James  C.,  181. 
Oliver,  Fitch  Edward,  181. 
Otis,  Harrison  Gray,  Mrs., 

181. 

Page,  William  H.,  181. 
Paine,  Martyn,  181. 
Parker,  Charles  S.,  175. 
Parker,  Henry  T.,  181. 
Parker,  William,  118. 
Parkman,  William,  14,  18, 

19,  26,  27,  57, 113, 152, 157, 

174. 

Parsons,  Usher,  181. 
Peabody,    Augustus,    Mrs., 

181. 

Perabeau,  H.,  181. 
Phillips,  Jonathan,  55,   62, 

133,176,181. 
Phillips,   Sampson   &    Co., 

181. 

Picard,  William,  181. 
Piper,  Solomon,  181. 
Plummer,  Farnham,  32,  39, 

41. 
Pond,  Joseph  A.,  4,  14,  15, 

18,  26,  56, 106, 113, 141, 142, 

144,  148, 152,  157, 174,  181. 
Poole,  William  F.,  149, 181. 
Porter,  Edward  F.,  41,  57, 

141, 142,  174. 
Porter,  W.  H.,  181. 
Potter,  E.  K.,  181. 
Prescott,  Bradbury  G.,  141. 
Prescott,  Frederic  W.,  181. 
Prescott,  William  H.,  181. 
Pulsifer,  David,  181. 
Putnam,  Charles  G.,  181. 

Quimby,  J.  A.,  181. 
Quincy,  Eliza  S.,  181. 
Quincy,  Josiah,  41, 128, 181. 
Quincy,  Josiah,  Jr.,  41, 118, 
119,120. 

Randall,  John  W.,  181. 

Raymond,  Samuel  M.,  181. 

Reed,  Hiram  A.,  181. 

Reed,  Sampson,  41, 181. 

Rice,  Alexander  H.,  14,  17, 
24,  31,  41,  68,  69,  84,  85, 
106,  107,  111,  112, 136, 143, 
149, 150, 151, 160. 

Rice,  J.  Willard,  33. 

Rich,  Brothers,  181. 


Rich,  Charles  O.,  32,  39. 
Richards,  J.  Avery,  32,  39. 
Richardson,   Benjamin    P., 

181. 

Richardson,  B  F.,  40. 
Richardson,  James  B.,  181. 
Richardson,  Josiah   B.,  15, 

18, 19,  26,  27. 

Richmond,  John  W.,  181. 
Riddle,  Edward,  181. 
Robbins,  Chandler,  181. 
Robinson,  George  I.,  32,  39. 
Roelker,  Bernard,  181. 
Rogers,  Charles  O.,  20,  21, 

28,  39, 106,  111. 
Rogers,  J.  K.  &  Co.,  182. 
Rowan,  Thomas,  60, 154. 
Ruggles,  S.  B.,  182. 

Sawyer,  F.  W.,  182. 
Schutz,  William,  31,  47,  153, 

175. 

Sears,  David,  182. 
Seaver,  Benjamin,  119,  122, 

123,  126, 130, 131,  182. 
Seidensticker,  J.  G.,  182. 
Sewall,  William  B.,  33. 
Shattuck,  Geo.  C.,  Jr.,  182. 
Shattuck,  Lemuel,  182. 
Shaw,  Benjamin  S.,  182. 
Shaw,  G.  Howland,  182. 
Shepard,  Sally  Inman  Kast, 

177. 

Shimmin,  William,  182. 
Shurtleff,  Nathaniel   B.,  3, 

16,  27,  47,  56,  106,  125, 127. 

137, 141,  142,  157,  169,  174, 

175, 182. 
Shurtleff,  Nathaniel  B.,  Jr., 

33. 

Sibley,  John  L.,  149. 
Sinclair,  A.  D.,  182. 
Sise,  Albert  F.,  32,  39. 
Smith,  Benjamin,  182. 
Smith,  Charles  A.,  33- 
Smith,  Elbridge,  82. 
Smith,  Felton  &  Co.,  174. 
Smith,  J.  Thomas,  32,  39. 
Smith,  Jerome  V.  C.,  41,  47, 

136, 144, 145,  182. 
Smith,  Joseph,  14, 18, 19,26, 

27. 

Smith  &  Tarbell,  175. 
Snelling,  Edward  A.,  182. 
Snow,  Herman,  182. 
Southey,  Thomas,  182. 
Sparks,  Jared,  182. 
Sparrell,  William,  144, 174. 


194 


INDEX. 


Spear,  Charles,  182. 
Spencer,  William  V.,  182. 
Spurr,  Oliver  H.,  34,  182. 
Stetson,  S.  A.    &    Co.,  33, 

175. 

Stevens,  Benjamin  F.,  182. 
Stevens,  Oliver,  13, 106, 113, 

151. 

Stodder,  Charles,  182. 
Stodder,  Jonathan,  182. 
Stone,  Artemas,  144. 
Stone,  James  W.,  182. 
Storer,  D.  H.,  182. 
Story,  Joseph,  41, 144. 
Stow,  Baron,  81,  79, 112. 
Strater  &  Buckley,  47,  150, 

175. 

Stuart,  G.  Okill,  Mrs.,  182. 
Sumner,  Charles,  182. 
Sumner,  William  H.,  182. 
Sunderland,  Laroy,  182. 

Tappan,  J.  L.,  182. 
Tarbell,  T.,  Mrs.,  182. 
Thayer,  Gideon  F.,  118, 182. 
Thayer,  S.,  182. 
Thompson,  Louisa,  182. 
Thompson,  Newell  A.,  160. 
Thorington,  J.,  182. 
Thornton,  J.  Wingate,  182. 
Thwing,  Thomas,  182. 
Ticknor,  George,  27,  57, 137, 
141, 142, 149, 174, 175, 182. 
Ticknor,  Reed  &  Fields,  182. 
Torrey,  Henry  W.,  182. 
Townsend,  Solomon  D.,  182. 
Tuckerman,  Edward,  182. 
Turner,  J.  W.,  182. 


Vattemare,  Alexandra,  117, 

118, 182. 
Viele,  Egbert  L.,  182. 

Waldron,  Sam'l  W.,  Jr.,  159. 
Wales,  George  W.,  182. 
Walker,  Amasa,  182. 
Wallcut,  Robert  F.,  182. 
Walley,  Samuel  H.,  182. 
Ward,  Samuel  G.,  16,  27,  56, 

137, 141, 142, 154, 174, 182. 
Ward,  Thomas  W.,  182. 
Ware.  John,  182. 
Warren,  George  W.,  41,  57, 

129, 136, 137, 174. 
Warren,  John  C.,  183. 
Warren,  J.  Mason,  121,  183. 
Washburn,    Frederick     L., 

14, 19,  26,  27, 175. 
Washburn,  William,  144. 
Washington,  George,  74. 
Webb,  Thomas  H.,  183. 
Webster,  Daniel,  74, 183. 
Webster,  George  W.,  183. 
Weld,  Moses  W.,  183. 
Wells,  E.  M.  P.,  183. 
Welsh,  Charles  W.,  183. 
Wentworth,  A.  &  Co.,  47, 

150, 174. 

West,  Charles  H.,  183. 
West,  E.  L.,  Mrs.,  183. 
Weston,  E.  H.,  40. 
Wetherbee,  Moses  H.,  183. 
Wetherell,  Leander,  183. 
Wetmore,  Thomas,  118,  183. 
Wheeler,  Benjamin,  160. 
Wheeler,  Olive  S.,  161. 
Wheeler,  George  P.,  161. 
Whipple  &  Black,  183. 


Whiting,  James,  119. 
Whitmore,  William  H.,  183. 
Whitney,  David  R.,  33. 
Whitney,  F.  A.,  183. 
Whitney,  Henry  A.,  183. 
Whitwell,  Samuel,  183. 
Wightman,  Joseph  M.,  14, 

15,  18,  19,  26,  27,  111,  159, 

160. 

Wilcox,  William,  97. 
Wilkins,  John  H.,  183. 
Willard,  F.  A.,  183. 
Williams,  Henry  W.,  183. 
Williams,  J.  D.  W.,  121. 183. 
Williamson,  William  C.,  33. 
Willis,  Richard  S.,  183. 
Willis,  Nathaniel,  183. 
Wilson,  Henry,  183. 
Wilson,  John,  183. 
Winsor,  Justin,  183. 
Winthrop,  Robert  C.,  16, 18, 

24,  27,  31,  42,  68,  78,  99, 

112,  121,  137,  138, 141, 142, 

145,  157,  174,  183. 
Wise,  Henry  A.,  183. 
Wise,  Isaac  K.,  183. 
Wise,  John,  183. 
Withington,  William,  183. 
Wolcott,   J.    H.,   151,    161, 

162. 
Woodberry,  Charles,  41,  57, 

141, 142, 174. 
Woods,  Charles,  183. 
Woolworth,  S.  B.,  149. 
Worthington    &    Flanders, 

183. 

Wright,  Caleb,  183. 
Wright,  Ephraim  M..  183 
Wyattj  Sophia,  183. 


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